OCEAN HARVESTS. 255 



Now, twenty thousand edible oysters are worth 400 

 francs ; their current price, when bought on the spot, 

 being 20 francs per thousand. The revenue from this 

 species of industry will consequently be inexhaustible ; 

 for we can submerge as many seed-collecting apparatus 

 as we choose, and each adult, forming part of the de- 

 posit, produces at least two or three millions of embryos. 

 The bay of Saint Brieuc will thus become an actual 

 granary of abundance, if, by the union of the banks 

 already created, we convert the whole of it into a vast 

 field of production." The experiment made in the bay 

 of Saint Brieuc is too striking to allow us to be blind 

 to the light of its instruction. It proves, by a brilliant 

 result, that wherever the bottom is free of mud, indus- 

 try, guided by science, can create in the bosom of 

 oceans, fertilised by its care, harvests more abundant 

 than are yielded by the land. 



This most interesting Report concludes with an earnest 

 appeal that the Emperor would be pleased to order the 

 construction along the coast of various scientific estab- 

 lishments for the permanent study of facts connected 

 with ichthyology, and for the further elucidation of its 

 mysteries. " In an age," observes M. Coste, " in which, 

 by an exalted application of the laws of physics, an 

 invisible flame conveys thought along the conducting 

 wires with which human genius entwines the globe, 

 physiology will exercise its empire over organic nature 

 by an application of the laws of life." 



These reports of M. Coste, so suggestive of physio- 

 logical problems of the highest importance, also contain 

 practical suggestions of great value for the improve- 

 ment of oyster-fishings. He insists that these shall be 

 made subject to regulation both as to the time during 

 which they shall be permitted, and the manner in which 

 they shall be conducted. He protests against begin- 

 ning oyster-fishing in September, and recommends that 

 this be delayed till February or March; because, he 

 argues, though in September spawning be over, the 



