Morning journal and courier., 1882-07-20
- Oyster Culture in France.

Our readers will be interested in the fol- lowing papers on oysters and their culture in France, by F. Wayland Fellowes, as they ap- peared in the Ame1ican N0tuTd5ist of June and September, 1867. The reprint seems now seasonable and in order:
 Beyond dispute or question, the French government has taken the lead of all the world in the scientific propagation and skill full culture of the oyster. For the past six years, the great discovery by the distin guished French savan, Professor Coste, of the mode of reproduction of this mollusk has been converted to practical use; and in suitable localities on the western coast of France, imperial farms, or p0rcs, as they are called, have already been put into successful operation. Many hundred million of these delicious bivalves (they are sold in France by the hundred, count, and not by the bushel as with us) now flourish and fattan in shal- low bays and basins, where, few years since, not solitary specimen could be taken, owing to the thoughtless and improvident in dustry of the fishermen, who captured and sold every oyster they could find, regardless of season, size condition As natural consequence the native growth was extermi- mated and it seemed probable that a source of profitable labor was gone forever from & very considerable number of the fishing l class on the seaboard, who, in over -popula- | ted France, could ill afford to lose one chance of earning their few sous day; while, on | the other hand, the tables of the rich were | likely to be deprived of one of their favorite l and most esteemed luxuries.
 l Just at this time, ln 1S5S-9, Professor | Coste settled long mooted point in natural | history, namely, that the oyster-in common l with many of the lower order of acephalous ! animals-is hermaphrodite combining both l sexes in the same individual, and his theory l of it's generation is substantially follows ! Possibly the second year, but certainly the l third year, the oyster reproduces it's kind. l During the summer, at seasons varying with 1 locality and temperature from April to July,
 many hundred thousand ova are simultane- 1 ously produced in cGpSuEes provided for 1 them these ova are fecundated at an early
 period of their growth, long before their in- | crease of size and weight causes them to l burst the ovarian capsules, and commence
 their existence in the milky fluid which is ! prepared for them at this time. The ova are | especially enveloped and protected by the
 branchial folds of the mother oyster. By
 an admirable provision Of nature, this milky fuid now begins to dry up and thicken, form | ing paste which deposits upon the ova ex | actly what is necessary to form a delicate
 shell in flaw hours, when brought into con l tact with the salt water by expulsion from
 the shell of the parent oyster. No sooner is
 one brood thus sent out into the world o
 waters to shift for itself than thls process is
 immediately repeated, and it is known tha
 an adult oyster produces between two anC
 three million of young during season.
 Although the oyster is remarkably prolific
 the ''spat" or spawn" has many enemies
 who feast up it, and there are many
 chances against it's safely finishing the second 1 ear,-when it is toleraoly safe, that an av
 craze of less than one-tenth is permitted tt
 attain a merchaptabls size.
 The spawn does not escape of its own ac
 cord from the mother oyster, but IS expelled
 (lGnce) with considerable force, forming a
 first a grayish cloud which soon disperse and disappears by motion of the sswater ant