108 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



ible, and it is only later when the production becomes diminished and 

 perhaps verges on depletion, that artificial means such as the putting out 

 of cultch and care of the young spat are resorted to. The artificial means 

 themselves depend upon the remnant of natural production. There are 

 still places, like Taranto in Italy, Arcachon in France, and Whitstable 

 in England, that, because of some fortunate, inherent, phj^sical conditions, 

 have resisted all forces of destruction and furnish starting points in both 

 natural and artificial production. Italy, France, England, Holland, 

 Germany, Spain and Portugal have natural oyster beds from which seed- 

 oysters are obtained. In Belgium there is no natural seed and oysters 

 for cultural purposes have to be procured from neighbouring countries. 

 In Spain, Portugal and Germany the seed oysters are taken on natural 

 banks without the use of artificial collectors. In England dead oyster 

 shells are scattered over the bottom for cultch. In France and Holland 

 tiles are similarly used, or are carefully piled in variously arranged heaps 

 that permit free circulation of water. In Italy bundles of branches of 

 the hazel or the gorse are suspended by grass ropes, supported between 

 stakes. In Japan branch-bearing stems of bamboo are stuck in the bottom. 

 They all accomplish the same object in the capture of young spat that 

 soon become large enough to be recognizable, and as seed may be separated 

 and transplanted to where there is plenty of room and food for growth. 



As in the mode for procuring spat, so in the manner of treatment 

 afterwards, there are different practices in different countries. In England 

 and Portugal the seed is transplanted to suitable places along the foreshores. 

 In France, Holland and Spain, the spat are protected for the first year in 

 wire cases before being transferred to a tidal beach, park or "claire." 



In Italy the spat caught on bundles of branches (fascines) may be 

 separated by chopping the branches into shorter lengths, which are stuck 

 in the suspending ropes. In place of transplanting, the ropes may be 

 removed to deeper or shallower water, and those oysters that become free 

 are placed in depending baskets. Thus all processes of culture may be 

 performed at the one place and by the same culturist, who makes use of 

 the full depth or vertical extension of the mass of water, instead of, or 

 as well as, the horizontal or surface extensionof the bottom as is customary 

 in other countries. On account of the warm climate and the small tidal 

 fluctuation, the Italian makes use of deeper water, whereas in other countries 

 it is the shore, especially between low and high-water marks, that is 

 employed. Collecting and growing may be supplemented by fattening 

 and storing side by side in the same park. 



In France reckless dredging of the natural oyster banks by all comers 

 reduced the industry until the government was forced to take restricting 

 measures. The culture methods are recent, having been originated by 

 Coste about sixty years ago. There is a specialization of the processes. 



