366 ON THE PLACE OF FISH IN 



work, or the alternative decay as a nation, is recognised 

 and acted on in open-air sports. Perhaps one or two 

 generations of a particular family may go on without 

 much muscle, but the consideration is a national one. 

 No direct Unfortunately we are without any direct evidence 



as to the value of fish in a hard-working diet - That 



in diet for fish-eatiner people are strong and healthy is remarked 



hard work, 



by travellers. But the question is on what fish do 

 they live ? When the nitrogen value of different fish 

 is considered, this is seen to be an important question. 

 We have no records of railway making, pile driving, 

 or even training being effected on fish. Even in the 



nor for work- attempts to introduce fish into workhouse dietaries, 



house diet. not hing is said of what fish is used. 



The best practical answer that could be given to 

 "What is the place of fish in a hard-working diet ?" 



Should be would be for a certain amount of work to be under- 



practically _ 



tried. taken on fish instead of meat. 



At present all we can say is, that as far as what 

 is commonly called chemistry goes, as apart from 

 spectrum analysis investigations, of dissociation, and 

 apart from that yet unexplained polarization, there 

 seems no reason why cheap fish should not take the 

 place of dear meat in a hard-working diet. Fish cost 

 nothing to rear. But it must be tried, as it has not 

 yet been tried ; for though there seems no reason for 

 doubt, test tubes and reagents may not cover the 

 whole question. If the British workman, after con- 

 sidering the facts which chemistry seems to teach, 

 such as here sketched out, decides for the future to 

 work on fish not twelve hours stale, instead of oatmeal 

 or tinned meats, he can do it, always, however, pro- 

 viding fish-shoal movements remain as experienced 



