THE OCEAN AS A SOURCE OF FOOD SUPPLY 175 



with ardour, only tempered by the fact that for much 

 of the year the weather renders operations impossible. 

 But before very long we may see many other such 

 stations established in more temperate places, and 

 what is now but a small industry greatly extended, 

 as indeed it deserves to be. And also, although it 

 must ever involve hard and extremely filthy labour 

 with the maximum of discomfort, it will be but a 

 pleasurable amusement compared with what the old- 

 time whalers must needs have endured, while its gains 

 will be out of all proportion greater for the workers. 



All around the shores of the Antilles and in the 

 Gulf of Mexico and Florida the wealth of the sea in 

 fish is, while still enormous, not to be compared with 

 that of the northern coasts of America and Europe, 

 nor is the fish of anything like so highly edible a 

 quality. Moreover, owing to the intense heat of the 

 atmosphere causing putrefaction to set in so rapidly 

 after capture, it has not yet been found practicable 

 to preserve fish here ; although, if the fish were highly 

 sought after for their food qualities, that could easily 

 be got over by the refrigerating method, and cold 

 storage would keep them sweet as long as required. 

 A somewhat striking example of this was brought 

 under my notice a few months ago. Returning from 

 the West Indies in a swift steamer, we carried a large 

 number of living turtles .in shallow tanks for the 

 delectation of gourmands at home. These curious 

 reptiles will not feed in such captivity, and conse- 

 quently, as might be expected, they occasionally die. 

 An experienced eye can always detect the symptoms 

 of approaching death, when an order is at once given 

 to the butcher, who cuts the throat of the creature, 



