OYSTER CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 385 



from adjacent shores, and rivers, slowly but surely accumu- 

 late and destructively cover the dainty molluscs to a greater 

 or less extent. In support of this well known fact, it has 

 been estimated (and this with respect to one river alone) 

 that the amount of sediment carried down annually by the 

 Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico equals 750,000,000 cubic 

 feet, and this equals a mass 268 feet in height and one 

 square mile at the base. From the knowledge of this fact 

 Geologists have accounted for many fossils which, other- 

 wise, would never have had their history revealed by the 

 pen of Science. Of course, as the deposit of sediment 

 continues, all animals subjected to its destructive influence 

 die, the oyster inclusive ; and, in course of time, the whole 

 mass (owing to the commixture of chemical matter) is con- 

 verted into a different and harder substance. 



But, although aware of this cause and effect in the Law 

 of Nature even in his native harbour and the waters in its 

 district although he will tell you that in certain parts of 

 these waters the accumulation of sand or mud is so danger- 

 ously or destructively rapid that within five years the depth 

 thereof has amounted to four or five feet (ij still the 

 Pooleite fisher persists in his assertion that oysters do bur- 

 row in the mud, and in this belief he cannot be shaken. 



No argument can alter his opinion, " founded on 

 fact" No truth-rooted, wonder-moving theory of stern, 

 hard-matter-of-fact-Science, can successfully oppose his 

 ignorantly inculcated and obstinate idea. No ! nor fossil 

 piles of mud-smothered molluscs (the petrified witnesses 

 to Geological Truth!) can convert this "Toiler of the 

 Sea" from his zoologically-erratic creed. Each and all of 

 these honest labourers, relative to the point in question, 



(i) Their statements vary ; ranging from i foot to 5 feet. 



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