IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND FRANCE. 183 



yet say what amount of young brood there is, but I will give a modest 

 approximation which will certainly be under the truth. However, I 

 give you the figures, sir, and will leave you to judge. There are, at the 

 lowest computation, two millions of tiles • I believe there are more, but I 

 will take this amount. I take on an average twenty-five oysters per 

 tile (all those I examined had fully that amount, and I even do not take 

 into account all that the parkers state that there are). We then have 

 fifty millions of young oysters on the collectors. The shells of the 

 cockles thrown on the natural beds, have a] so collected the spat. In 

 certain places, on Le Ces, for example, the oysters are in bunches of four 

 and five. I will put down, however, this quantity of spat at a less 

 figure than that on the tiles — about thirty millions, and I can state 

 without fear of exaggeration, that there are at least eighty millions of 

 young oysters, perhaps more, even from 100 to 150 millions. The visit 

 to the parks and natural beds next month will enable me to give you 

 more exact information. In a word, sir, our parks all present a beauti- 

 ful and interesting sight. The pilot of Marennes, who accompanied me 

 here, and who knows all the works of this description undertaken at 

 Oleron and along the coast, was perfectly amazed at such results. He 

 saw and was convinced. Incredibility has become enthusiasm. I would 

 much wish that events would permit you coming here, sir, to judge for 

 yourself what our works have produced. They are the result of your 

 observations, and your long and patient labours have to-day been 

 crowned with the most brilliant success. All you predicted is realized. 

 The basin of Ar each on is constructed by nature to reap the spat of the 

 oyster. I beg you will excuse the unconnectedness of this report. I am 

 writing in a hurry, under the impression of what I have seen in the last 

 few days. / saw in haste, but I am positive I saw well, and that I am 

 below the truth. 



(Signed) De Rochebrune, 



Captain of the Steam Vessel 

 the "Sylphe," at Arcachon. 



Report to the Inspector-General of Fisheries, on the situation 

 of the Imperial Park of the Basin of Arcachon. By M. 

 Marchand, Captain of the Sylphe. 



General Conditions. 



The Imperial Parks have been kept up and managed by a special 

 grant of £140. 



The expenses consist in the purchase of cockles, shells, tiles, hydraulic 

 lime, boats for the transport of materials, people, planks for tiles, shovels, 

 different tools, spars for beacons, hatchets, nails, &c, and various things 

 required for the parks. 



We placed 20,000 tiles covered with a coating of water lime, in ruches 

 of 45 tiles each, forming about 444 ruches, all resting on a deal flooring 

 We have ascertained that there are on an average 100 spat per tile; 

 150 cubic yards of shells have been scattered about over the different 

 parks, and the show of spat there is remarkably good. The old shells 

 and the shells of live oysters are covered with spat, we cannot actually 

 fix the number, but there is a very fine production. 



Establishment of Claires. 

 The determination to construct claires for tiles covered with spat is 

 excellent, and in time will prove very beneficial ; it is a very good plan, 



