46 OSTREID^E. 



part in the sad tragedy which has been performed in 

 that unfortunate country, by indicating (like the herald 

 in a Greek play) the approaching separation of the 

 States, with reference to the distinction in its own case 

 into ' ' northern " and ' ' southern." The art of " huitre- 

 culture," which has been practised in France with so 

 much success, is simple as well as useful. It consists 

 of fixing, in sheltered and suitable spots, wooden stakes 

 interlaced with branches of trees, arranged like fascines, 

 on which a few breeding-oysters are laid. At the end 

 of three or four years the stakes are pulled up ; the 

 mature oysters are selected for market, the small ones 

 being left to grow and breed; and the stakes and 

 branches are replaced. A similar harvest is gathered in 

 each succeeding year. The preserve or " park " is paved, 

 to prevent an excessive accumulation of mud, which 

 would destroy the fry. Its enclosed and raised position 

 prevents the access of fish and other injurious animals. 

 The German Ocean has been so long the fishing-pond 

 of Europe, that its supplies are beginning to fail us; 

 and we cannot feel too grateful to M. Coste for his 

 ingenious method of replenishing the nearly exhausted 

 stock of oysters. Besides man, the oyster has many 

 enemies ; and were it not for its wonderful fecundity, it 

 must long ere this have been extirpated. Starfishes, 

 whelks, and annelids attack and devour the adult ; and 

 countless shoals of small fish, bivalve mollusks, and 

 other animals swallow the fry while they are disporting 

 themselves in the brief period of their free and active 

 state. 



The oyster is a classical character; and its praises 

 have been said or sung by innumerable writers, from 

 Aristotle to " Professor " Blezard. It furnished Shake- 

 speare with many a playful allusion ; and the philoso- 



