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CHAPTER XIII 



PRESENT CONDITIONS IN THE 

 NORTHERN FIELD 



F one were to sit before a large map of the 

 United States and, compass in hand, compare 

 the extent of other parts of the Atlantic and 

 Gulf shore line with that extending from Del- 

 aware Bay to Narragansett Bay, which comprises what 

 may be called the northern oyster field, he would dis- 

 cover, if he were not already acquainted with the fact, 

 that in extent the latter is relatively a very short stretch 

 of coast. To be sure, this is merely a matter of miles, 

 but it must be admitted, after measuring the irregular 

 shore lines of inland waters connected with the sea, that 

 there are many of them between the Delaware and the 

 Mexican boundary. 



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