126 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



firm muddy sand, and I found the temperature of the 

 water to be 74° F., and the specific gravity 1*025. 



The water is admitted from the sea b}^ great sluice 

 gates, and there seems an abundance of vegetation and 

 food matters in the pares. The oysters are laid down in 

 July or so, and remain till the following March or April, 

 when they are ready for market, but may be kept longer 

 till required. They are all " huitres blanches" as no 

 "greening" appears to take place in these enclosures, 

 which by the way are not called claires here but pares 

 d' elevage. It is said that the growth of the oysters in 

 this lake at Les Sables is very rapid. In the low-lying 

 ground round the lake there are ponds dug out, very like 

 the claires at La Tremblade and Marennes, in which the 

 oysters may be put for a few weeks to be specially fattened 

 up and flavoured. Salt is also made by evaporation in 

 these or similar shallow pits. 



Les Sables is a centre for the sardine fishing and has a 

 large fleet of boats, and also factories and warehouses 

 for the tinning of the sardines. On the actual seashore 

 north of the town the beach is marked off into rude stone 

 enclosures used as fishing weirs ; set lines are also used 

 on the shore and prawning is carried on. Fixed engines, 

 as at Hoy an, for shrimping are in use both from the 

 breakwater and also from small boats. In the market, in 

 addition to the usual common fish, oysters, mussels, 

 Tapes decussata, and two or three different species of crabs 

 were exposed for sale. 



Le Croisic. 



This ancient little fishing town is in the south of 



Brittany close to the projecting point which forms the 



northern extremity of the estuary of the Loire. It is 



conveniently reached from Nantes by St. Kazaire. As in 



