The Oyster. 83 
cles, each of which is an egg, and will by and by 
become a perfect fish; these increase in size very 
rapidly, and after floating about for a while, sink to 
the bottom, and become attached to rock or some 
other substance, in which position, if not violently 
detached or removed, they complete their growth and 
live out the term of their natural life. Their food 
minute animalcule, and microscopic vegetation, on 
the nature of which their flavour greatly depends. 
They have many enemies besides man; the 
whelk, and the crab, the sea-star or “five fingers,” 
and the large drum-fish, which swallows them 
almost by the bushel, shells and all; these help to 
thin the Oyster-beds, and make the dredger’s 



labours less remunerative than they would other- 
wise be. Here is a picture of one as he stands in 
