THE SHOEES OF BRITAiX. 



CONTINUED. 



Theee is one aspect in which, if we view the sea, 

 it speaks eloquently the beneficence of God to man ; 

 namely, as the source from whence he draws an inex- 

 haustible supply of wholesome and nourishing food. 

 And there is no nation more favoured in this respect 

 than Great Britain : the seas which surround us are 

 stocked with a vast variety of fishes, the great ma- 

 jority of which are eatable. Erom the form of our 

 coasts, there is always at some part access to the 

 sea, the wind which locks up the ports of one coast 

 leaving others free : the numerous bays, harbours, 

 and inlets offer a refuge to which to run in unfa- 

 vourable weather, as well as a market for the disposal 

 of the produce taken ; while the bold and hardy 

 character of our population qualifies them to take 

 advantage of a proffered source of profit, though not 

 unattended with risk. Accordingly, we find that the 

 fisheries afford to this country a revenue of great 

 value ; and an immense quantity of cheap animal 

 food is produced by them, the importance of whicli 

 can hardly be overrated. The prosperity of Holland 

 is notoriously founded upon the zeal, industr}--, and 

 success with which her sons have prosecuted the 

 herring-fishery ; a fact wliich is announced in the 

 well-known Dutch saying, "The city of Amsterdam 



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