[5] THE OYSTER AND OYSTER-CULTURE. 687 
such a depth that small vessels can pass over places where only a few 
hours before men and wagons might travel with perfect safety. In an 
investigation of the oyster-beds our little steamer got into too shallow 
water between the island of Féhr and the mainland, and ran fast 
aground about nine o’clock in the morning. The water was falling, and 
in a few hours it was entirely out. We descended and went on foot to 
Hallig Oland,* which lay like a green plate, upon the level, grayish 
sea-bottom, about one kilometer to the eastward of our vessel. While 
upon this Hallig we visited a hill which had been formed by artificial 
means. Upon the hill was a fresh-water pond surrounded by a small 
group of dwellings, among which was a church encompassed by graves. 
We then returned to our vessel before the water had again flooded the 
flats. At about seven o’clock in the evening the water had risen so high 
that our vessel began to rock; it soon floated, and we steamed to Fohr, 
to anchor for the night in the harbor of Wyk. 
Along the entire German coast, from Rém in the north, upon the Danish 
border, to Borkum in the west, near the islands of Holland, the sea is 
of a similar character. Thus, before the mouth of the Elbe, from Cux- 
hafen to the island of Neuwerk, the sea-bottom is laid bare with every 
ebbing of the tide, for a breadth of 7 to 8 kilometers. At such times one 
can reach the island on foot, on horseback, or with a wagon. In pass- 
ing over this flat one finds himself at such times on a level with the 
sails of vessels which are passing by upon the sea, and along the bor- 
der of the retreating waters and the emerging sea-bottom one sees 
scattered flocks of sea-birds hunting the uncovered worms, mussels, 
and crabs before they withdraw into the earth. When the flats, at the 
time of the lowest ebb, are lying, dry and silent, above the water, one 
can already hear in the distant depths the roar of the incoming flood. 
First it comes in slowly, then faster and faster, and finally more slowly 
again, until at the full flood the water stands over the northern por- 
* Halligen is a name given to small, low islands in the Schleswig-Holstein Archi- 
pelago, composed of marsh land, and not protected by dikes from high tides. They 
are green plains, enlivened by pasturing cattle and sheep, and lie only a foot above 
ordinary high-water level. They are overflowed by the water during storms. The 
word Hallig is perhaps derived from Haf-lik. That portion of the coast which is 
dry during the ebb and covered during the flood tide is called Haf; lik means like, 
similar. No other land is so similar to the Haf land as the land of the Halligen. 
The islands of the Schleswig-Holstein sea-flats consist either of low marsh land 
protected by dikes, or of higher sand tracts and downs. 
Nordstrand and Pellworm are marsh islands; Féhr is marsh and sand together, and 
Sylt and Amrum have high sand tracts and downs. 
The marsh soil isa gray, uniform, fine mass without any stones; when wet it becomes 
tough and sticky. It originated from muddy material brought down by rivers and 
streams and deposited in quiet places along the sea-coast. The high sand tracts are 
composed of old raised sea-bottoms. They are uneven, consist principally of coarse 
sand, and are much less fertile than the rich marsh soil, which, without manuring, 
yields abundant harvests. 
