262 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
and towns over $260,000 for the franchises permitting them to cultivate oysters and 
in taxes upon these franchises, and have paid many hundreds of thousands more 
in taxes upon the steamers, shops, wharves, and other appurtenances of a great 
industry. In Rhode Island, besides the general benefit to the prosperity of the 
state resulting from a great productive industry—which is, of course, the princi- 
pal consideration—the oyster growers pay annually to the state avery large sum 
in rentals for oyster grounds. ‘The income to the state from this source in 1907 
was $96,000, and it is estimated that in 1908 it will be more than $100,000. 
The oyster industry has been created and developed notwithstanding many 
and great obstacles. Great storms have swept away the results of the outlay of 
millions of dollars in experiments and planting. The natural enemies of the 
oyster, especially the starfish and the drill, have destroyed millions of dollars 
worth of the product, and the oyster farmers have expended millions more in 
catching and destroying these enemies. They have suffered great losses from 
many causes and have encountered and defeated unnumbered difficulties, perils, 
and vicissitudes. Hostile legislation and litigation have been overcome. ‘The 
lawless have sought to find flaws in the titles, so as to reap the fruits of the labor 
of others. Demagogues have appealed to the underlying anarchistic or poacher 
sentiment, which exists among some classes of voters. 
One of the most trying experiences which the oyster grower has been called 
upon to meet is the recent storm of public notion in decrying oysters as an un- 
wholesome food. People have been accustomed to regard oysters as a nutritious 
and especially as a digestible food, and one which is most welcome to the palate 
of the epicure. It is but natural that they should desire to know whether there 
is any foundation for the sensational assertions that have been made against 
oysters. In recent years many kinds of food, perhaps a majority of all the kinds, 
have been claimed to be objectionable in one way or another. They have been 
found adulterated, in insanitary environment, or exposed to contamination by 
the germs which are blown about in the dust of the streets. Milk has been 
found to be swarming with the bacilli of typhoid, diphtheria, and tuberculosis, 
and water with typhoid and malarial germs. These have caused hundreds of 
epidemics of typhoid fever and other diseases. Flies and mosquitoes have con- 
veyed in multitudes of cases typhoid and malarial infection. Among them all 
probably no article of food has been attacked in so sensational a way, with so 
small reason or ascertained fact, as oysters. Some so-called scientific writers 
have attacked them because the subject was novel and sensational, although 
previous scientific research had proved the oyster to be a most nutritious, easily 
digested, and valuable food. A novelty is a welcome subject for a magazine 
or newspaper article. 
