50 KNIGHT — ON OYSTER CULTTTRE. 



and sown in squares. At this period the shells are of a con- 

 sistence to permit them to be detached from the collector with- 

 out endangering the life of the mollusc. Occupations of this 

 nature require many employees. The overseer surveys the 

 whole, directs them, and distributes to each his roZe. The 

 wives assist their husbands in all the lighter labours. Some 

 cleanse the collectors, others remove the debris; some sow the 

 seed-oysters, others sort the mass, separating those that are 

 merchantable, and disposhig them in baskets, others carry theuh 

 to their destination ; while all wage war against the enemies of 

 the precious mollusc, as ducks, fishes, crabs and whelks — -the 

 two last terrible enemies from the union of their attacks. 



'3. The prodi^ctiveness of the system. — Mr. Bertram re- 

 marks, "A gentleman from Jersey, who explored the oyster- 

 beds in the bay of Arcachon, was informed by one man who had 

 laid down 500,000 oysters, that they had increased in three 

 years to 7,000,000. And at He de Re the inspectors counted 

 ■600 full-grown oysters to the square metre," and he adds, 

 "seeing that 630,000 square metres are now under cultivation, 

 it follows that the oysters in this tract of desert mud are worth 

 irom six to eight millions of francs, the total crop being (at the 

 time spoken of) 378,000,000 of oysters." 



4. Qxyst of jiroduction, and profit. — Monsieur Sonbeiran 

 gives as a short harvest ascertained from the results at Ai'cachon, 

 4000 francs per hectare (i acre) at a cost of 750 francs (500" 

 jper cent.) ; and Mr. Bertram gives a statement of the results at 

 ■Brienne in 186,0 that is almost incredible, viz : — 60,000 francs 

 'for an expenditure of only 221 francs. This, however, must 

 have beeu an extraordinary spatting year. 



Mueh^might be said, and that of an instructive character, as 

 to the economic value of oyster-culture as a branch of national 

 industry ; and on this subject our French author has some 

 ""admirable remarks, recommending this industry, as affording' 

 employment to the maritime portion of the people, and aug- 

 menting the sources (de I'alimentation publique) of food for the 

 whole population. 



As to the application of oyster-culture to other countries^ 

 much depends upon the nature of the soil. Muddy gi'ound is 



