Pvn H,i I'UitlS

46 OSTREID^E.
part in the sad tragedy which has been performed in
that unfortunate country, by indicating (like the herald
in a Greek play) the approaching separation of the
States, with reference to the distinction in its own case
into "northern" and "southern." The art of "huitre-
culture," which has been practised in France with so
much success, is simple as well as useful. It consists
of fixing, in sheltered and suitable spots, wooden stakes
interlaced with branches of trees, arranged like fascines,
on which a few breeding- oysters are laid. At the end
of three or four years the stakes are pulled up ; the
mature oysters are selected for market,
the small ones
being left to grow and breed; and the stakes and
branches are replaced. A similar harvest is gathered in
each succeeding year. The preserve or " park V is paved,
to prevent an excessive accumulation of mud, which
would destroy the fry.
Its enclosed and raised position
prevents the access of fish and other injurious animals.
The German Ocean has been so long the fishing-pond
of Europe, that its supplies are beginning to fail us;
and we cannot feel too grateful to M. Coste for his
ingenious method of replenishing the nearly exhausted
stock of oysters. Besides man, the oyster has many
enemies ;
and were it not for its wonderful fecundity, it
must long ere this have been extirpated. Starfishes,
whelks, and annelids attack and devour the adult ;
and
countless shoals of small fish, bivalve mollusks, and
other animals swallow the fry while they are disporting
themselves in the brief period of their free and active
state.
The oyster is a classical character; and its praises
have been said or sung by innumerable writers, from
Aristotle to " Professor " Blezard. It furnished Shake-
and the philoso-
speare with many a playful allusion ;