4 INFLUENCE OF MAN ON FAUNA OF THE OCEAN, 



nets and other instruments used by man for capture. But just 

 as — even in large areas of fresh water — the stock of fishes may 

 be reduced to small dimensions by over-fishing, so restoration 

 by artificial measures can be effectively carried out. In both 

 respects, therefore, fresh waters offer a contrast to the sea. 



When we come to the ocean the problems connected with 

 man's influence on certain of its denizens assume a much greater 

 degree of complexity. In the first place, though the almost 

 boundless space of the air far surpasses the sea, the latter 

 greatly exceeds the land, since it occupies about three-fourths 

 of the earth's surface. Yet this gives but an imperfect com- 

 parison, for, whereas it is chiefly on the surface of the earth 

 that terrestrial animals are found, it is altogether different with 

 the ocean, the inhabitants of which not only people the bottom, 

 but glide over the latter, frequent mid-water and the surface, 

 indeed, may be said to be scattered everywhere throughout its 

 mass as well as fringe its margins. Moreover, while we can 

 pursue the mammal on land, entrap the fish in the stream or 

 lake, or follow the flight of the bird to a certain extent in the 

 air, it is otherwise with the sea. Its ever-changing and often 

 opaque and tempestuous waters offer a barrier to the pursuit 

 of its larger forms, even were it possible to track them to its 

 distant abysses, while the more minute for the most part escape 

 observation. Thus with all the skill and perseverance of ages 

 much yet remains to be accomplished in regard to our know- 

 ledge of the sea and its inhabitants, both plant and animal. 

 One feature, however, sufficiently distinguishes the sea from the 

 air, viz. its being almost everywhere permeated by life — both 

 plant and animal, and thus it affords a never-failing supply of 

 food to its inhabitants, each of which finds in the surrounding 

 water the nourishment best suited for it. 



The resources of the ocean, however, are limited in the case 

 of the large air-breathing forms pursued by man, such as the 

 right whale or " bow-head," which has steadily decreased in 

 numbers during the present century. The reckless slaughter 

 of the young whales accompanying their dams, a sure method 

 of capturing the unfortunate and solicitous mothers, has intensi- 

 fied the effect of this eager chase by various nations for whale- 



