60 APPENDIX TO REPORT ON OYSTER CULTURE 



oyster beds, will, in consequence favour the development of the oyster 

 industry to the profit of the fishermen, and the public supply of food. 



To-day, when it has been shown that the small oysters develop more 

 rapidly in parks than on the beds, it is well to make the fishermen 

 aware of the advantage that would accrue to them, by the formation of 

 establishments, where they could place these small oysters, upon their 

 return from fishing. These establishments, of which the utility cannot 

 be overlooked, are, in effect, the necessary object of the means granted 

 to the fishermen to dispose of their small oysters, instead of throwing 

 them back on the banks. 



The Administration will then, if needful, lend its aid to the fisher- 

 men, to point out places suitable for the formation of such parks. It 

 will also assist them in the drawing up of the applications which they 

 will have to present, and the making of the plans which must accom- 

 pany these applications, in the terms of the decree of the 10th Novem- 

 ber, 1862. 



I request you may be good enough to submit to me, for this end, any 

 propositions, the adoption of which may appear useful to you. The 

 application of the terms of the subjoined note may, doubtless, be con- 

 trary to old customs of certain localities ; notably, as regards the time 

 for the fishing to commence. Also, it is necessary for the agents of the 

 marine, who are in daily contact with the fishermen, to impress upon 

 them as forcibly as possible, that it is in their interest that beds that are 

 not sufficiently stocked, are not permitted to be worked ; and that in 

 shortening the time of opening certain beds for fishing, a greater means 

 of wealth is prepared, of which they alone will profit. 



However, these rules can only be applied in a certain measure ; as ex- 

 pedient as they are, we must manage to make them suitable to the usages 

 of the river population, until they are entirely enlightened. It is for this 

 motive that the words " as far as jyossible" have been introduced in section 

 2 of the before-mentioned note (the end of January, for example), when 

 the young oysters have acquired consistence enough to resist the action 

 of the drag or dredge. 



Receive, sir, &c. 



The Minister Secretary of State for the Marine and Colonies, 



(Signed), P. De Chasseloup-Laubat. 



Enclosure. 

 Note on the Dredging of Oyster 



1. Classed oyster beds, namely, those capable of being cultivated 

 (dredged) from boats, sometimes bare in the whole or in part, their limits 

 should be entirely fixed on all sides, by straight lines, buoys, poles, or 

 in some manner or another. The marking of these limits ought to 

 be arranged so as to permit of an efficacious surveillance. 



2. Classed oyster beds, ought only, as far as possible, be dredged 

 towards the end of January, namely, when the young oysters will 

 have attained a sufficient amount of consistency to be able to resist 

 the action of the dredge. 



3. The time for the opening of the beds ought alone be mentioned 

 in the prefectoral orders, that of the shutting being naturally depen- 

 dent on the state of the bed, with regard to the quantity of oysters 



