THE COASTS OF SAINTONGE. 317 



gerous to a ship as to run upon a rock. We can 

 scarcely therefore wonder that the sailors and fisher- 

 men should make numerous complaints against these 

 louchots. The boucholeurs on their side deny or ex- 

 tenuate the facts of the case, and it is said that the 

 courts of justice, when called upon to decide between 

 these opposite parties, are often at a loss how to 

 award their verdicts. 



After having seen the spot and examined these 

 bouchots, we are of opinion that it would be a very 

 easy matter to arrive at an equitable decision. It 

 would of course be alike absurd and cruel, either 

 directly or indirectly, to destroy the bouchots, and thus 

 at one blow to deprive a whole district of a flourishing 

 branch of commerce which has existed for more 

 than eight centuries. On the other hand, the 

 houcholeurs cannot be suffered to take possession of 

 the whole shore, and to transform the only harbour 

 of refuge along this line of coast into a bay studded 

 with gigantic spikes. But if an opening were made 

 through these palisades all interests might be main- 

 tained and respected. A channel of 400 or 500 

 yards in width, would be more than sufficient for 

 the purpose. At the cost of a small indemnity, 

 which would be justly due to the boucholeurs, whose 

 property had been interfered with, the communica- 

 tion between the entrance and the foot of the bay 

 would be re-established, whilst the various bouchots 

 that still remained would serve in the place of 

 breakwaters. 



I have twice visited Esnandes. On one occasion 

 I accompanied M. Sauve on an excursion in an aeon. 



