PREFACE 



This book is a popular presentation of many in- 

 teresting facts concerning the production, nature, 

 and uses of the great variety of commercial products 

 of the sea. These marine treasures include jewels, 

 buttons, ornaments, perfumes, tortoise-shell, foods, 

 condiments, medicinals, chemicals, oils, fats, waxes, 

 glues, jellies, sizes, cements, stock foods, fertilizers, 

 leather, furs, lime, poultry grit, sponges, and whale- 

 bone. The production of each one of these is an 

 important industry. In most of these industries one 

 finds lively sport and gripping romance. Whaling 

 is as thrilling as elephant hunting. Pearl fishing 

 offers as much romance as diamond mining. Ocean 

 fishing has a fascination which holds many of our 

 bravest* and strongest men. The source of this great 

 wealth, the restless, ever changing sea itself seems 

 to enchant every one who once comes within its spell. 

 The author has attempted to present these in- 

 dustries in such a way as to furnish both informa- 

 tion and entertainment, and hopes that this book 

 will be of interest not only to those who are pri- 

 marily interested in marine products, but also to 

 the general reader and to students of commercial 

 geography, biology, geology, chemistry, ocean- 

 ography, and navigation. Obviously in a general 

 survey such as this it is impossible to enter into 



