9 



THE AGE OF FISHES 



THE migrations of human beings across the Ocean River 

 and the growth of human populations along its shores 

 have their counterparts among the living creatures within the 

 River itself. In many ways the two are interrelated, since the 

 great Atlantic fisheries provide a substantial part of the food 

 of Atlantic man and were an important factor in the pattern 

 of exploration and settlement of the western shore. The fish- 

 eries in turn depend on the River, for the streams and water 

 movements of the North Atlantic have an enormous influence 

 on the lives and food of fishes. 



The submarine life of the North Atlantic and its marginal 

 seas has a unique importance in the history of science. Just 

 as our knowledge of evolution in the ocean is based largely 

 on ancient sediments laid down under the Atlantic waters 

 when they flooded the Eurasian and North American conti- 

 nents, so our present day science of marine biology is founded 

 on the discoveries made in the River and its depths during 

 the early investigations of the pioneer Atlantic marine biolo- 

 gists and oceanographers. This scientific interest was greatly 

 stimulated by the partial dependence of Atlantic communi- 

 ties on life in the River and the consequent necessity of sus- 

 taining and conserving the fisheries which this life supports. 

 The success of early Atlantic investigations has prompted 



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