THE OCEAN AS A SOURCE OF FOOD SUPPLY 163 



the shallows near the shore, there can be no conflict 

 of opinion. There is, however, very grave difficulty 

 in carrying out such protection ; for the only way 

 to do so efficiently, would be to prohibit shrimping 

 altogether, inflicting great hardship upon a large 

 body of hard toiling men, who, in gathering their 

 curious harvest, destroy enormous quantities of im- 

 mature fish which abound in these shallows, in order 

 to escape the depredations of their natural enemies, 

 who frequent deeper waters. 



But when we have admitted all we can on the 

 score of exhausting any portion of the harvest of the 

 sea, we have really come to the conclusion that the sub- 

 ject is hardly worth consideration. It can only affect 

 the flat fish, and only then in certain very restricted 

 areas, so that it may, indeed, be said that the harvest 

 of the sea is inexhaustible without fear of contradiction. 

 Moreover, such is the fecundity of the sea that it is 

 certain, however far man's inventive powers may 

 enable him to reach down into the as yet unfished 

 depths and draw from their limitless stores, he will 

 never be able to make the least impression upon the 

 incalculable wealth of the sea in food. For what, after 

 all, are his puny efforts compared with the never- 

 ceasing devourings of the sea-monsters ? It has been 

 calculated that an adult rorqual will require and 

 obtain at least two tons of herrings every day to satisfy 

 his hunger, and who knows how many of these raven- 

 ous whales accompany each school of herring, to say 

 nothing of the dog-fish and other devourers, whose 

 depredations are even greater by reason of their mighty 

 hosts. These, however, are, as must necessarily be 

 the case, but general statements, and it is time to 



