412 THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE SEA. 



ly, when we consider the advantages which the improvements of 

 the age, the lights of the day, would afford an exploring expedi- 

 tion there now ; when we reflect upon the drawbacks and difficul- 

 ties with which former expeditions thither had to contend ; when 

 we call to mind the facilities with which one might be conducted 

 now : surely, I say, when we thus reflect, no one can doubt as to 

 the value and importance of the discoveries which a properly 

 equipped expedition would now be sure to make. 



768. In those regions there are doubtless elements of commer- 

 commerciai consider- ^^^ wcalth in the numbcr of seals and abundance 

 ^"°''^' " of whales, if in nothing else. It seems to be a 

 physical law that cold-water fish are more edible than those of 

 warm water. Bearing this fact in mind as we study Plate IX., 

 we see at a glance the places which are most favored with good 

 fish-markets. Both shores of North America, the east coast of 

 China, with the west coasts of Europe and South America, are 

 all washed by cold waters, and therefore we may infer that their 

 markets abound with the most excellent fish. The fisheries of 

 Newfoundland and New England, over which nations have wran- 

 gled for centuries, are in the cold water from Davis' Strait. The 

 fisheries of Japan and Eastern China, which almost, if not quite, 

 rival these, are situated also in the cold water. Neither India, 

 nor the east coasts of Africa and South America, where the warm 

 waters are, are celebrated for their fish. 



769. Three thousand American vessels, it is said, are engaged 

 Value of the fisheries, in thc fishcrics. If to thcsc WO add the Dutch, 

 French, and English, we shall have a grand total, perhaps, of not 

 less than six or eight thousand, of all sizes and flags, engaged in 

 this one pursuit. Of all the industrial pursuits of the sea, how- 

 ever, the whale fishery is the most valuable. Wherefore, in treat- 

 ing of the physical geography of the sea, a map for the whales, 

 it was thought, would be useful ; it has so proved itself 



770. The sperm whale is a warm-water fish. The right whale 

 Sperm whales, dclights ill cold watcr. All immense number of 



log-books of whalers have been discussed at the National Obser- 

 vatory with the view of detecting the parts of the ocean in which 

 the whales are to be found at the different seasons of the year. 

 Charts showing the result have been published ; they form a part 

 of the series of Maury's Wind and Current Charts. 



