FUTURE POSSIBILITIES 83 



tribution quickened. More than in any 

 other industry the time factor operates, 

 for the commodity when caught is perish- 

 able, and the conditions of its capture are 

 dependent on seasons and weather. The 

 essence of progress in the fishing industry 

 is the saving of time ; if the production be 

 increased only 10 per cent it might mean 

 a doubled income for everybody. A saving 

 of time is nearly always all profit to the 

 persons engaged. The wages of the sea 

 labourer are twice those of the labourer of 

 the soil, but this is no reason why they 

 should not continue to increase if only the 

 proper spirit prevails. 



If those engaged in the industry do not 

 rise to its possibilities, there is perhaps a 

 possibility that the State may step in as 

 buyer and distributor, for in a period of 

 famine it is the right of everybody to par- 

 ticipate in the food supply or demand that 

 an efficient control shall be operating. 

 Some may consider this desirable. In 

 theory, perhaps, it is better to have co- 

 operation and to eliminate the wasteful 

 part of competition ; but the industry is 

 peculiarly unsuitable for State manage- 



