Etude physico-chimique de l'estuaire du Belon

The Belon oyster farming centre, despite its economic interest, has, up to now, only been the subject of periodic investigation. In 1923, HINARD took on the study of oyster farm beds in order to compare them with those of another well-known area, Marennes. Later, within the framework of oyster larvae research, VOISIN (1932), TACLET (1935) and HERMAN (1935 to 1938) engaged in a few observations there on temperatures and densities during the months of June and July, the flat oyster's breeding period. In 1946-1947, in brief, MARTEIL started a comparative study of the Aven and the Belon, the results of which were not published. The recurrence of the phenomena of summer mortality rates, since 1961, made it necessary to acquire more knowledge of the estuary. Our research has focused since 1968 on the physical-chemical factors that have seemed the most important to us, morphology and sedimentology, hydrology and oyster farming soils.