The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-09-30
sDiseeIIaae0aS.
ARC4CHON.
A Lonely Land i'm France.

Lost in The rarely violated soiisade of th
tGRdes south Of Bordeaux, the Bay of Area
chon was, IN former days, only visited b.
gulls and Wild ducks. The scattared III
habitants who settled on It's shores wer
rude fishermen deprived OF al eommuni
cation with the outer world.
The tide, with its regular ebb and flow
covers the IrlYncns0 space; when high, tb'
green hue Sf the water can scarcely be dis
tinguished from the sand-hlii5 and uncer
tain line Of It's InaTshy shores; when low
the winding ehaRHeis,=sith their mnumer
able notifications, have been compared tC
the suckers Of gigantic medusa Tn.
whole scene depicts to the geologist al
image Of primitive chaos marshy lagoons
still uninkabited by man, out of which rise
islands of mud, which The nlmagination
may realize as the mighty reptiles of those
early days. The firm shore is separated
from this mass, more or less liquid, by fields
OF mud, covered with tbeFed willow. II 6
tTeIab. legrsS, or trembling meadows, which
mark The liRe of former bays; saYannahs
dotted with groups OF trees; tortuotis canals
dividing islands and peninsulas; and the
forests ard downs which lie on The west,
complete. the strange and primeyal aspect
offered by water, sand and mud.
The villages are occupied b. two classes
of men, the resin-makers and the fisher
men. Formerly the two races lived IN a
state of open hostility. Civilization has
somewhat softened these rancorous feel
ings, but the contest between them is ap-
parent in q moment TO the inexperienced
traveller. The Tes1ieT, as he is called in
the country, is remarkable for his slender
limbs, hollow and pale checks, fixed look,
obstinate silence, savage manners and rig
i'd economy. He is dark, as if the mystery
of the forest always weighed upon him,
and when he laughs his gaity seems like a
ferocious explosion. In later days he has
laid aside his red vest for the usual dress
of s.. peasants, and, owing 90 the in
crea price Of his commodity, he can
buy lds, build cottage, and improve
upon his sordid life. Becoming the in
habitant of town, he ceases to be q saw
age of the woods. The fisherman, on the
contrary, is q merry fellow, his complexion
ruddy, his limbs well formed, his step as
sured, he loves TO laugh and sing, and
generously spends the earnings of his diff
cult voyages,
TIE LEECH TRADE.
There are many occupations carried on
beside these shores as well as that of fish
ing, which, however, is extremely prOfita-
BILE, owing TO the immense quantity of fish
which resort to this neighborhOOd. One
of these trades is that of propagating
leeches in the meres near the bay. For
merly, the custom was to use miserable
worn-out horses; but these poor animals
were found by the propagator to wear ont
too soon the veins opened by the leeches
did not heal, and so the life's blood could
4 l., L., L., I,
duty as nurse to the young annelides.
haggard, but resigned, the
animal submits With 6 stupid kind of as
tonishment 10 the attacks of clusters of
leeches hanging on its legs; aud when the
moment of utter exhaustion comes,
she is sent of. to her pastures to
renew life, and furnish a fresh repast.
Two weeks suffice for each process, alter
nately carried on, until death puts an end
to being eaten In detail. The owner of
about eight acres of marsh supplies yearly
two hundred COWS for The nourisbment of
eight hundred thousand leeches; he buys
the animal for about two pounds, and sells
the carcass for sixteen shillings. The ass
is sometimes employed, but it proves to be
less resigned than the more patient COW;
it kicks, prances and tries TO bite; and
the storm Of It's numerous enemies, IL be-
comes mad with terror. That this culture
Of leeches forms an important branch of
trade to the Inhabitants Of the Bay of Ar
saohon, may be believed when it is known
HAT million and half of Ieeehes, are an
lually exported to Bordeaux.
OYSTER CULTURE.
Ii glaneing over the expanse of wafer,
ong poles may be seen here and there,
marking another of The objects of interest
the culture of oysters. From the earliest
ii times this shell-fish has been remark
ably good in the bay; at the bottom OF the
where the tides are most rapid,
ire found the hsdtTes dc GrdUe; while on the
mud banks the celebrated huitreS de qrdUette
ire gathered, and exported ali over
Europe. But, by their greedy haste, the
ishers have almost depopGlated the banks
md only one here and there is now TO be /
ound. A law has been made to interdict
he fishing for the greater part of the year, |
md the spawn is growing by millions for
uture trade. Besides these, private indi-
7iduals have embarked their capital In ly-
ng out beds with oysters brought from
spain, England aud France. as well as
hose which are found in Virginia, on the
welve or fifteen inches in length. The
nud-baDks are paved with shells, where |
he little creatures which escape 10y |
nyriads from the shell of the oyster |
mother may repose in safety; white thick /
ranches Of trees are woven together, that |
hey may form protection against being |
Washed away by the tide. 1t is TO be fear |
d the esheS eanterprising individuals DO |
a. Ial.
RS, the watching OF the young oysters in |
Tolves great expense, and they do not |
ROW very quickly. It IS not all the banks |
Thich suit: some are too muddy, aud give |
flavor TO the fssb; others are |
f too pure sand, on which tie oyster can
ot fatten; and if the tide islong in recov-
ring the young spawn, they are much |
nore slowly deyelOped. Besides these |
obstacles TO the extension of
his trade. there are the countless enemies
Vhieh are in the sea; Of tho million germs
ThIch escape like pollen from the mother,
imogt all are deyoured-a few culy have
he chance OF attaching themselves to a
hell or a branch. Then as they grow and
pen their valves, the destroyer is ever on
he watch. Mollusks Of different kinds /
eed on them; and the crab, that terrible
avager of the sea, has a claw always ready /
o advance into the shell and devour the
Ontents.
woAIANs RIGHTS IN FORCE.
The men bring all the produce Of their
shing 10 the wife; she is the real head of /
be establishment. During the long alb
ence of her husband, it falls TO her TO di-
eet the business of the community; and |
whole villages. are solely inhabi-
ed By women and children for the greater
art of the year. When the husband un-
apply perishes, as is so often the case on
lis dangerous coast, it falls to her lot 10
ring up the son TO the same trade which
as cost his father his life. All CONNER
sl transactions are given up 10 her; she
Is who sells the daily haal of fish. Be
're the railway was made TO Bordeaux, she
ent thither on horseback, or in a small
art, II all seasons and weather; she cross
d by night the marshes and moers of Me-
oc TO reach th9 market carly, and return
ONE as soon as she had disposed of her
asket. The men, shut up on all sides by
ne desert of the landes, had never even
zen The great city, and knew Of its won
ers only from the description given b.
leiT wives.
DUCK HUNTING.
The general view of the bay is much
D lied by another local trade. On ali the
snks arc rows of stakes. which at low tide
ok like the remains of an ancient forest