The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-07-24
Gun STORY .TELLER.
WONDERS OF THE SEA.

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New York weskiy.l AZ
We look with amazements at the vari-
GUS products Of the soil, as webehold the
almost Infinite variety of vegetable life
on every hand, and we wonder that all
these various productions, so diversified
in form and opposite in chemical char
acter, should yet all spring from the
same soil and thrive in the same atmos-
phere.
A somewhat similar experience comes
10 us when we look at the products of the
sea. Here, too, we find almost infinite
diversity OF form and numerous oppo-
sites in physical character. ID -
Let us look at some of these ,denizens
of the deep, and, il i mistake not, we
shall find them well worthy of our at
tention. Let us take one highly valued
by us all as albenefcent gift of our
THE OYSTER.
The beginning of life of this bivalve
is rather unproinising both for its SEEM
ing insignificance and the perils that sur
round it. 1t is somewhat in this wise:
During the summer months of this
latitude, when the oyster is in the "milky
state" and not so edible as at other
times, occurs the spawning season, when
the present oyster sends forth into the
flood millions of embryonic oysters. 80
minute as 10 be at first invisible TO the
unaided eve. The minute creatures
float about at random in every direction.
without sny controlling influence what
ever from the parent, until those so for
tunate as to escape their numerous foes
attach themselves to rocks, gravel, coral.
clean oyster shells, or Whatever - at
hand, and once attached they are settled
for life, and must thereafter make the
best of their settlepents One would
almost wish that. sorns men-and shall
we say women jalro?-in this respect
were like TIM npyster. so that their evil
influences night be confined to single
and more limited sphere-for the busy
body In other mems matters and the
gossip have ever been great pests in
society.
When the young oyster "spat" is
about week old 1t becomes visible to
the unaided eye, and after three months
IT is about the size of finger nail, and
then great numbers are often found
crowded on a single she'll or pebble, and
as they grow larger are of course crowded
still more, and when they are being cul-
up and scattered over the bed of the
sound or bay, where they will then attain
TO much larger size and improve in
quality for about five years.
AS the oyster is such keeper at home
il cannot go in quest of its food, and
therefore kind Providence has ordered
that the everchanging tidal currents
shall bring the requisite food to it, SC
that IL has but to open its strong lips ant
seize the dainty morsels 40 they pass
Thus it is that His tender mercies ar,
over all His works." not excepting ever
the humble and obscure oyster.
But a very interesting question herr
presents itself: ~
WHENCE coHfr THE sur1Jsor ovsrrps
Tho AZ ,.. - 49,. .s.l eI. =
~ ~ NY sio" yu1 " sno IooA
.a,LJ ssa sno ~ "nSn 'ne oys.el y,
S;s"' ~. .na' W ts ol'cn 9i eh.lreI..
,ha.rs Tt nA. "ne.Ie 'hen com
oys1oi .id
,ho i .er;oi e -. &, 'aas =, Ioiiec.in! M
To e~nIa;n p,ors % ' fuIlr o1i Tha , .h.st mIee; /;
eApiain p1 r.nn oro 'uuy. me sne!r
composed chiefly, OF carbonate of lime
Lime is dissolved IN the rivers and tn
ocean, Just as sugar Is IN soIufion IN tea
or as salt Is in sea-water. Now, as we in
sensibly secrete lime from our food +
make up the bones of our bodies so. tn
oyster abstracts lime from the sea t
make up its bones also; for the shells o
all shell-fsh are their bones, placed, .un
like ours, on the outside of their bodies
and-therefore, all such creatures hay
no bones within, as they are unnecessary
When we remember how widely dii
fused are oysters and many other varit
ties of shell-fish and that thew all dra,
the material for these outside bones frol
tho water, we see what vast quantit
Of solid matter is locked up in the water
of the globe, held in solution by thes
curious stone makers of the sea.
1t Is surely cause for gratitude
our benefcent Creator that He has nC
only given us such an abundant variet
OF food from the land, but has also mad
the great deep one vast store-house {
another and entirely different but equal
as delicious class OF edibles, and equal
adapted both to our tastes and to OF
physical constitution. Verify, "tt
earth is full OF the goodness Of th
'4Sd -.,,
ous .neIe ID sun more stnkng pro-
~ the great quantity OF TINS calcareo'
substance in searwater, in the reefs an
iaiSu,ls
u mas oeen recentiy stated tnat the
hsf no" over Two nunored sucn lsian'
a.isady discovered, and doubtless mar
n;o'e no. sy are YET % ;ss oe io@nd, n, especially