THE OYSTEE. 17 



on the results of experiments made for the improvement 

 of oyster-beds. The locality chosen was the hay of St. 

 Brieux, on the coast of Brittany. Between March and 

 May, 1859, about 3,000,000 oysters, taken from different 

 parts of the sea, were distributed in ten longitudinal beds 

 in the above bay. The bottom was previously covered 

 •\Aith old oyster shells and boughs of trees arranged like 

 fascines. To these the young oysters attach themselves, 

 and so fruitful are the results that one of the fascines 

 was found at the end of six months to have no less than 

 20,000 young oysters on it. The report further states 

 that 12,000 hectares may be brought into full bearing 

 in three years at an annual expense not exceeding 10,000 

 francs." 



M. Laviciare, Commissary of the Maritime Inscription, 

 in his 1860 report to M. Coste, of the success of these 

 operations in the Bay of St. Brieux, states that " a 

 recent examination has fully and satisfactorily proved 

 the advantageous results obtained on the five banks 

 which have been laid dowTi, and which have exceeded 

 the most sanguine expectations. Three fascines, which 

 were taken up indiscriminately from one of the banks 

 formed in June, 1859, contained about 20,000 oysters 

 each, of from one inch to two inches in diameter. The 

 total expense for forming the above bank was 221f. ; and if 

 the 300 fascines laid down on it be multiplied by 20,000, 

 600,000 oysters will be obtained, which, if sold at 20f. 

 a thousand, will produce 120,000f. If, however, the 

 number of oysters on each fascine were to be reckoned 

 at only 10,000, the sum of 60,000f. would be received, 

 which, for an expenditure of only 22 If. would give 



