48 KNIGHT OX OYSTER CULTURE. 



points of the Basin, at Grand-Ces, Crastorhe and .Lahillon, and 

 these model-farms have given results so wonderful that they 

 must soon furnish more oysters than the entire basin furnished 

 before, and give the assurance that the whole bay will easily be 

 rendered fertile. These facts are verified by the report of 

 M. Ohaumel, the Commander of the Government vessel em- 

 ployed in replenishing the banks, and ovei seeing the oyster- 

 grounds. Two of these Imperial parks, embracing a total sur- 

 face of 22 hectares, were established in 1860 upon crassats where 

 oysters already existed. From that time to 1866, a million of 

 oysters were throAvn over the parks, 100 cubic metres of shells 

 oi Sourdon [Cardium edide) Avere laid, and one hundred and 

 ninety-seven collectors distributed over the flats. These col- 

 lectors, besides the shells of the Sourdon, became covered with 

 spat, and although from 1862 to 1865 eight millions of oysters 

 had been removed to supply various localities near and remote, 

 there remained in the parks, in large and small oysters, about 

 sixteen millions. This result was the experience of six years, 

 where about one million of oysters only existed. Including the 

 million of oysters that were added to these, the increase in six 

 years Avas 1150 per cent., or twenty -two millions. The third 

 Imperial park, le pare de LaTdllon, Avas established upon a part 

 of a crassat of about twenty acres in size, and occupied about 

 tAvo acres. When they commenced their labour, the oysters 

 Avere so fcAV that a premium Avas offered for every oyster that 

 could be found. During 1863 and 1864 thcv sowed 178,000 

 oysters. At the same time they placel 250 tiles and a quan- 

 tity of oyster shells and of Sourdon shells to serve as collectors. 

 In the first year the result Avas very satisfactory ; for they 

 counted about sixty spat per shell, and an average of one hun- 

 dred per tile. In 1865, they completed the number of 500,000 

 oysters soavu, and replaced those they had sold by the same 

 number taken from one of the other parks. They also laid a 

 large number of tiles and other collectors. The result of this 

 j^-ear showed — 



