When I was a lad growing up on Long Island sound I had never seen an oyster, and I presumed that they must have hid out in the mud or something and it took special skills to ferret them out. Today when I go back to visit I am astonished at the oyster shells that litter the beach. Now I know that there is still "sewage in New Haven Harbor", maybe as much as there ever was (nitrite happens!). So what gives? I'll tell you another thing. No longer can you see the abundance of starfish that we waded thru as kids. Could this be only a case of rising and falling levels of competitive species? Don't tell me that Pete Seeger was trying to put one over on us! Now I know that Myth makes for better folk music(and good soul-stiring propaganda) than does Science, but I really would like to hear from someone on this subject who knows what they are talking about (and can fend off the PC)