THE OCEAN AS A SOURCE OF FOOD SUPPLY 171 



we undoubtedly do possess. It is true that our 

 imagination, be it ever so vivid, can hardly picture to 

 us any portion of the sea more densely packed with 

 great fish than are the Newfoundland Banks ; but, then, 

 oceanic facts are given to transcending the efforts of 

 the imagination. Here, at any rate, there are no inter- 

 ferences with natural laws on the plea of protecting 

 the deep-sea denizens from man. Also, there is no 

 territorial jurisdiction, because the banks are all much 

 more than the stipulated three miles from any coast. 

 Like the ocean, this splendid fishing-ground is free 

 to all ; and all may know that, toil as they will, and 

 have what success they may, they will not, because 

 they cannot, diminish the plenitude of the supply by 

 one jot, any more, indeed, than they could decrease 

 the water of the ocean by using a hand-pump. And 

 this would remain true if the fishing fleets were 

 augmented a hundredfold, because the hidden wealth 

 of the sea is incalculable by man. Only, he is apt to 

 form his conclusions from what he sees, and forget the 

 magnitude and importance of the unseen, which, of 

 course, is but natural. 



The enormous area over which the cod range in 

 their countless myriads, numbers beyond all the powers 

 of human imagination, embraces between fifteen and 

 twenty thousand square miles, and its finny population 

 do not merely overlay the bottom in one stratum, but 

 in many strata, so that the depths are thick with them. 

 They are not found in the same numbers at all seasons, 

 moving hither and thither, but not far, in their search 

 for food at times, although generally that food comes 

 to them, and thus obviates the necessity of their 

 travelling far. But even at their slackest time they 



