26 The Fishery Question. 



and Venice. We all know why St. Petersburg was built on a 

 marsh ; and the history of this century is replete with the evidence 

 of the desire of Russia to establish herself within the (iolden 

 Horn. France has fed her navy from the hardy Bretons and 

 Normans who have served a rude api)renticeship on the Banks 

 of Newfoundland. Canada, as yet with a population of about 

 five million souls, already possesses a marine greater than that 

 of Russia, Germany, Italy, or France. Prosperous as may be 

 hereafter her commerce in manufactures or in agricultural pro- 

 ducts, it is on her rich fisheries must always rest in a large 

 measure her maritime greatness. These fisheries must in the 

 nature of things continue to be the most prolific in the world. 

 The icy currents that come from the North bring with them a 

 vast collection of minute organisms, which form the food of the 

 myriads of fish that annually frequent the waters of British 

 North America. The industries that depend on the products 

 of these waters are expanding with the increase of capital and 

 enterprise, and there is no limit apparently, to their influence on 

 the prosperity of the provinces by the sea, and indeed of the whole 

 Dominion. As long as the fisheries of Canada are prosecuted 

 with vigour, they must form no inconsiderable element of the 

 wealth of the country, and at the same time continue to give 

 employment to a large class of hardy men, whose courage 

 and endurance will be found invaluable in the defence of the 

 Empire, with which the people of Canada hope always to remain 

 connected. 



BALLANTYNH PRESS, CHANDOS STREET, W.C. 



