186 APPENDIX TO REPORT ON OYSTER CULTURE 



liberty of action for the sale of the product of their tiles, either detached 

 from, or with the tiles, might be allowed them. 



The surveillance would be very easily managed — the oyster grown on 

 a tile, in a measure, preserves indelibly its mark of origin, the lower shell 

 has a light flattened appearance near the hinge, and a small quantity of 

 the lime, during at least two years (and that without giving the oyster 

 an unsightly or unpleasant shape). 



Useful Restriction. 



But, as compensation, the deep sea oysters and the oysters from the 

 cultch and shells, for the future, should not be allowed to be sold for the 

 market or for export, until they had attained the size of seven centime- 

 tres. 



The Imperial Parks, well managed, are the natural sources from which 

 the basin will be restocked ; they can support themselves. 



The quantity of oysters sold to the Inscription Maritime has allowed 

 of the productive foreshores being cultivated ; they have been furnished 

 with cultch to enable the necessary works to be done, so that thus the 

 Imperial Parks contribute to their own maintenance by the sale of their 

 oysters ; the natural beds opposed to them, as producing as much per 

 hectare as the others ; this year the storms of September have given them 

 a large quantity of their small oysters, and spat ; as I mentioned before, 

 it is to the Imperial Parks they owe this stock. 



The 100,000 oysters from the imperial beds, sold to the Inscription 

 Maritime was a lucky stroke for the purchasers, for during the interval 

 between the buying of them in March and their being sold actually, they 

 were covered with spat. Before selling other oysters, either to individuals 

 or to the Inscription Maritime, it would be well to establish a minimum 

 for the Imperial parks, about ten millions of oysters, which appeal's to be 

 the normal amount during 1870. It would be disastrous for the future 

 prosperity of the beds to even sell one of them later ; on the contrary, by a 

 regular sale, varying in extent according to the amount produced, the basin 

 itself would not only be restocked, but would be capable of furnishing 

 oysters to others. 



I consider that the granting of oysters to individuals is bad, causing 

 jealousy ; for the most part, these gifts are turned into money, the persons 

 to whom they have been given, selling them even before they get them 

 themselves ; we have often also seen complaints in regard to the good or 

 bad appearance of the oysters. 



Works to be undertaken in 1870. 



To continue the ordinary methods of culture, shown by the exper- 

 iences of many years, and the experiments that have proved successful in 

 1869. 



Firstly. — To complete the claires of Crastorbe. 

 ' Secondly. — Bemake the claires of L'Ahilon. 



Thirdly. — To throw down the centre ditch of L'Ahilon. 



Fourthly. — To spread cultch on Ces and Crastorbe. During the mortes 

 eaux to prepare the collectors of all sorts, and to coat the tiles with 

 hydraulic lime. 



To purchase from 20,000 to 100,000 more tiles, and to suppress the 

 tables with fascines as being too costly for the amount produced. 



To place large fascines where they won't be left uncovered. 



Here is what, for the first year, this increase in material would cost, 

 afterwards we would only have to pay for the cultivating. 



