THE SHORES OF BRITAIN, 

 i 



CONTINUED. 



There is one aspect in which, if Ave view the sea, 

 it speaks eloquently the beneficence of God to man ; 

 namely, as the source from whence he draws an inex- 

 haustible supply of wholesome and nourishing food. 

 And there is no nation more favoured in this respect 

 than Great Britain : the seas which surround us are 

 stocked with a vast variety of fishes, the great ma- 

 jority of which are eatable. From the form of our 

 coasts, there is always at some part access to the 

 sea, the wind which locks up the ports of one coast 

 leaving others free ; the numerous bays, harbours, 

 and inlets offer a refuse to which to run in unfa- 

 vourable weather, as well as a market for the dis- 

 posal of the produce taken; while the bold and 

 hardy character of our population qualifies them to 

 take advantage of a proffered source of profit, though 

 not unattended with risk. According! v, we find 

 that the fisheries afford to this country a revenue 

 of great value ; and an immense quantity of cheap 

 animal food is .produced by them, the importance of 

 which can hardly be overrated. The prosperity of 

 Holland is notoriously founded upon the zeal, in- 

 dustry, and success with which her sons have prose- 

 cuted the herring-fishery ; a fact which is announced 



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