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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



life " ; then the water is let in gradually from the sea until the 

 required depth is obtained. For ordinary evaporation a small 

 quantity of fresh water is allowed to be introduced, but sometimes 

 it becomes necessary to admit tide water. There are hundreds of 

 ponds along our coast that could be utilized in the same manner as 

 the one which I have just described, and a little care to observe a 

 proper density and temperature of the water, after the inclosure 

 and macadamizing had been done, is all that would be necessary to 

 secure quite as satisfactory results as have been obtained in France. 

 Stringent regulations governing the dredging of the French 

 natural oyster beds have succeeded in rehabilitating the depleted 



Fio. 12. CASES FOR BEARING SEED OYSTERS AT CANCALE, FRANCE. 



banks at Granville, St. Malo, and Cancale ; and it appears to me 

 that similarly stringent State enactments in Maryland and Vir- 

 ginia would immensely benefit the productivity of the Chesa- 

 peake grounds. "Dredging within the prescribed limits (in 

 France), as at Cancale, is granted so seldom that such occasions 

 have become like holidays." The time allowed in 1890 was "be- 

 tween two and three hours." Mr. Dean thus describes this annual 

 dredging expedition : " The beach is filled with spectators. At a 

 cannon shot the little vessels start as in a regatta, each striving 

 to be first on the ground. The dredges, four or five to a boat, are 

 operated by half a dozen fishers. A cannon shot closes the dredg- 

 ing, and the little fleet returns shoreward, usually well laden." 



