THE OYSTER. 177 



counts for nothing, and as the bottoms can never be 

 used for any other purpose than oyster culture, the 

 only way in which the value of the oyster bottoms 

 can increase is by the extension of the market, and if 

 this is brought about by the energy of the oyster 

 farmers it will not be just to assert that they have not 

 earned it. The value of our bottoms, for rearing 

 oysters, is as great now as it will ever be, and while 

 the selling price of land will rise as the industry ex- 

 tends, the increased price will not be due to increased 

 value, but to more general recognition of its value. 

 Interest in the subject will awaken and spread, after 

 the success of the first experiments, and as appre- 

 ciation of the value of the ground becomes more gen- 

 eral, and the demand increases, the price must rise, 

 although the actual value of the land for the pro- 

 duction of food will not be any greater than it is now. 



The only danger to be guarded against is that some 

 of the land may fall into the hands of speculators, who, 

 instead of cultivating it and adding to our resources, 

 will keep it idle and unproductive until they can sell 

 their unimproved rights at a profit, on account of the 

 increased price of neighboring improved lands. 



This difficulty seems very formidable on paper, but 

 it can never exist on any extensive scale, for it would 

 in that case defeat its own end, and it is clear that it is 

 from its own nature transitory, and that it will disap- 

 pear as soon as oyster culture becomes general and 

 all the land comes into profitable use. 



I believe that ultimately it will be found to be the 



