Enemies of the American Oyster 165 



In spite of enemies and bad seasons, many an energetic 

 oysterman, beginning with small capital, has built up a 

 comfortable fortune. There is a constantly growing de- 

 mand for this form of food, and there are hundreds of 

 miles of fertile bottoms, now barren, where, with com- 

 paratively little labor, it may be produced, and other 

 fortunes will be made on them. 



