44 KNIGHT — OX OYSTEK CULTURE. 



how these fisheries could l)e artiiicially nicled, as the fresh water 

 fisheries had beeu aided through the re-discovery by Joseph iiemy 

 of the long forgotten art of pisciculture. It was from observing 

 the process of oyster-culture at Lake Fusaro in Italy, that M. 

 Coste conceived the project of introducing oyster-culture into 

 France. The mode of oyster-breeding at this place was, to 

 erect artificial pyramids of stones in tlie water, surrounded by 

 sticks of wood, in order to intercept the spawn, the oyster being 

 laid down on the stones. Faggots of branches were also used 

 to collect the spawn. 



In this place I may describe the manner in which the spawn 

 or " spa^" of the oyster is collected, and its further develop- 

 ment secured. Oysters do not leave their ova, like many other 

 marine creatures, but incubate them in the folds of their 

 mantles, and among the laminoi of their iun<i"s. There the ovjt 

 remain surrounded h\ mucous matter, which is necessary to 

 their development, and within which they pass through the 

 embryo state. The mass of o\'a, or spat as it is familiarly 

 called, undergoes various changes in its color, meanwhile losing 

 its fluidity. This state indicates the near termination of the 

 development, and the sending forth the embryo to an independ- 

 ent existence ; for by this time the young oyster can live without 

 the protection of the maternal organs. The animated matter 

 escaping from the adults on breeding baidis (the oyster is con- 

 sidered to beau hermaphrodite) is described as rescmiiiing a 

 thick mist being dispersed by the winds — the spat is so scattered 

 by the waves that only an imperceptible portion remams near the 

 parent stock. All the rest is dissipated over the sea space ; and 

 these myriads of animalculro, tossed by the waves, either attach 

 themselves to solid bodies, or fall victims to the larger animals 

 which prey upon them. The spawn, as found floating on the watei', 

 is greenish in appearance, and each little splash may be likened 

 to an oyster nebula, which resolves itself, when examined by a 

 powerful glass, into a thousand distinct animals. By the aid of 

 the microscope, the young animal can be se<'n with its shell per- 

 fect, and its holding-on ap[)aratus, which is also a kind of swim- 

 ming pad, ready to clutcii the first solid sul)stance that the 

 current may caiTV it against : hence the economy of artificial 



