TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR FISHERMEN 29 



While education has been obtained through the experi- 

 Occu'ations" ^^^^^ °^ occupations, the first form of organized edu- 

 cation was to prepare individuals for special occupa- 

 tions or callings. Organized education is now being extended to serve 

 all occupations and all classes of workers. The occupations followed 

 have always occupied a large place in the drama of life. If all the world 

 is a stage, then the occupation by which the player earns his living has a 

 very large influence upon the character of the play. The severest charge 

 brought against the modern school and college education is that it does 

 not provide fair play for those who are to follow the constructive and 

 conserving occupations, such as farming, fishing, manufacturing and 

 housekeeping. Complaint is sometimes made that those who seek pro- 

 visions for special education for workers are disposed to materialize 

 and debase education, which the complainers suppose should be regarded 

 only as a theoretical and scholastic preparation for life. On the other 

 hand it seems to some of us that an education planned to prepare for 

 life without regard to qualifications for the occupation to be followed 

 will fail to accomplish its purpose, whereas a formal education defi- 

 nitely planned to qualify individuals for occupations will thereby 

 become the best means for preparing them for their whole life. 



Fishing is one of the ancient and primitive occupations 

 Importance of 

 the Fishing of mankmd, and it is also one of the fundamental 



Occupation employments of a large proportion of the population 



of Canada. Passing reference may be made to at least one notable man 

 who gained qualifications for his later life through the management of 

 a boat, the handling of a gill net, and even control of a drag-seine net 

 in the sea of Galilee. St. Peter, who became the preeminent fisher of 

 men, was first a fisherman as a contributing earner in his community. 

 The occupation has always been followed by hardy, courageous, intel- 

 ligent and adventurous men ; perhaps it is to be credited with the 

 development of these qualities. The question now is whether the con- 

 ditions of such worthy men cannot be greatly improved, their powers 

 enlarged, and their outlook improved by education, directed especially 

 to qualify them to follow their occupations in the very best way. 



The economic importance of the question is revealed by the fact that 

 the annual value of the fisheries of Canada is some $31,000,000 to 

 $35,000,000. The numbers of men employed are about 84,000 in sea 

 fisheries and 10,000 in other fisheries. These represent a population of 

 about 470,000 persons. The value of education to them is to be meas- 

 ured by its efjfect on their standards of life and the satisfactions they 



