54 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Respecting the rate of digestion, from what little we 

 know by actual experimentation, it is fairly safe to conclude 

 that the majority of birds consume daily a bulk of food 

 equal to 3^-4 times the capacity of the stomach. 



Finally, let me, as the result of many years' practical 

 experience, utter a word of caution with regard to field 

 observations. Over and over again have I seen, or read of, 

 hasty conclusions formed, due to lack of experience or 

 knowledge or to imperfect observation. 



The question of the economic status of any particular 

 species of bird may, at first sight, appear to be one of only 

 secondary importance, and it is not until we realise the 

 magnitude of the industries connected with the land and 

 the fisheries, that we appreciate how important all economic 

 factors are that bear upon either or both of them. 



According to a recent authority , the fishing industry in 

 Great Britain employs upwards of 27,000 vessels, manned 

 by more than 90,000 seamen, who land annually nearly a 

 million tons offish, valued at some 10,000,000. Excepting 

 that portion destined for curing, the whole of this huge 

 mass of food has to be rapidly distributed over the country, 

 and daily the process is repeated, so that in addition to 

 the actual fishermen we have a small army of packers, 

 coopers, salesmen, hawkers, etc., and to these we may add 

 the large number of railway employees engaged in the 

 transfer. 



On all hands we are told that our fish supply could be 

 increased if the fisheries were worked on more scientific 

 principles, in short, if we knew more of the numerous 

 scientific problems affecting them. 



With respect to the importance of agriculture, little need 

 be said. " I have always regarded agriculture (in its widest 

 sense)," says the Right Hon. Jesse Collings, 1 " as the chief 

 national concern, and as the only basis on which the real 

 welfare of a country can be securely established. If we 

 have purchased commercial supremacy at the cost of a 

 permanent decay of that great industry, we have bought 

 it at a ruinous price." 



1 Land Reform, London, 1906, p. x. 



