186 MUSSEL BEDS OF ESN ANDES. 



gether within the pockets, they are cleared out and 

 distributed over other poles lying somewhat nearer 

 to the shore, whilst the full-grown Mussels which are 

 fit for sale are planted on the bouchots nearest the 

 shore. It is from this part of the Mussel bed that 

 the fishermen reap their harvest, and every day enor- 

 mous quantities of freshly gathered Mussels are trans- 

 ported in carts or on the backs of horses to La 

 Rochelle and other places, from whence they are sent 



as far as Tours, Linoges, and Bordeaux The 



following data, which were collected by M. D. Orbigny 

 more than twenty years ago, will show how important 

 this branch of industry must be to the district in 

 which it is cultivated. In 1834 the three communes 

 of Esnandes, Charron, and Marsilly, representing a 

 population of 3000 souls, possessed 340 bouchots, 

 the original cost of which was valued by M. D. 

 Orbigny at 696,660 francs ; the annual expenses of 

 maintaining them amounted to 386,240 francs, 

 including the interest of the capital employed, and 

 the cost of labour, which, however, is spared to the 

 proprietor who works on his own account. The nett 

 revenue is estimated at 364 francs for each bouchot, 

 or 123,760 francs for the three communes. Finally, 

 the expense of the carts, horses, and boats, employed 

 in transporting the Mussels, then amounted annually 

 to 510,000 francs; but these numbers are far from 

 representing the expenses or profits at the present 

 day. At the time M. D. Orbigny lived at Esnandes, 



