OUR SEA FISHEKIES. 213 



CHAPTEE XIII. 



OUR SEA FISHERIES. 



If our ignorance of the value of our inland fisheries 

 is to be deplored, assuredly the ignorance which exists 

 upon a matter so Vital to us as our sea fisheries is 

 ten times more deplorable. Situated as England is, 

 where would she so naturally turn for a constant and 

 unfailing supply of hardy sailors, in case of a great 

 naval war, as to our fisheries ? The importance of 

 these aids to our naval power has always been clearly 

 recognised until of late years. Formerly, so great 

 a store was set by this source of supply, that the 

 Government granted bounties in respect to the fish 

 taken in our herring fisheries ; and there can be no 

 question that the system, in a national point of view, 

 was a wise one, and worked well, and that the with- 

 drawal of it has had an injurious effect upon this 

 source of manning the navy.^ Even as a matter of 



1 strangely enough, juat as we have given up the eystem of 

 bounties, America and France — who ia straining eveiy nerve to 

 create a great navy — has taken it up. 



