The Mighty Deep 



these seasons millions of cuttlefish are caught, 

 to be used as bait, by means of which enormous 

 supplies of cod are taken for the market. 



A calculation has been made that, in the course 

 of a single spring, on the banks not far from 

 Newfoundland, something like one hundred and 

 twenty millions of cod are the result of com- 

 bined British and American and French exer- 

 tions. 



Happily, this fish also is very prolific. An 

 individual often produces three or four millions 

 of eggs in a season ; and as many as eight 

 millions have been found on one fish. Here, 

 again, immense numbers of the eggs fail to 

 develop, immense numbers are devoured. Yet 

 multitudes come to perfection, and the ocean is 

 still furnished with cod. 



There is, however, a very serious danger, 

 beginning to be recognised, in the case of cod 

 and yet more of some other "white-fish" kinds; 

 and this is that in time the reckless havoc worked 

 may outrun even these wonderful sources of re- 

 newal. Fishing has been carried on in the past, 

 without thought for the future. Little or no 

 attention has been paid to sparing the young ; 

 and the valuable roe itself has been used as an 

 article of food. Man may by-and-by have to 



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