266 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



cares neither to sell nor eat the small fishes ? Moreover, it is 

 hollow legislation which imposes a penalty in the case of small 

 flat-fishes, and is purblind to the slaughter of young round- 

 fishes. 



The closure of large areas of the sea rests on no scientific 

 basis, and there cannot be a doubt that the public are thus de- 

 prived of a large and perennial supply of fishes of easy capture. 



To him who revives the barren fears and doubts of many 

 centuries, and to the disciple of the " Impoverishment of the 

 Sea," there is thus little to choose in the round of alternatives. 



On the other hand, the plenitude and the endurance of the 

 sea-fishes are marvellous, yet true. Nature is even prodigal in 

 their vast abundance and variety. Indeed, it is by no means 

 certain whether the combined destruction caused by invertebrate 

 marine animals, from the democratic Jelly-fish (Cydippe) to the 

 predatory Cuttle-fish, by the food-fishes themselves, many eating 

 their smaller brethren or the young of their neighbours- — even 

 the Herring swallowing dozens of the floating eggs of the white 

 fishes with its food — by predatory fishes like Sharks, Dog-fishes, 

 and Skate, by the vast army of piscivorous birds, by the multi- 

 tude of Whales, single and social, and by the Seals— I repeat, it 

 is by no means certain whether this combined destruction does 

 not equal, if not exceed, in numbers at least, that of man himself. 

 Let us, then, be chary of futile international or other expendi- 

 ture in search of a phantom, but at once organize the scientific 

 staff of the three centres of the kingdom on a modern (which 

 means a separate, i.e. apart from agriculture), effective, yet not 

 costly footing. Finally, whilst vigilant in guarding the great 

 national trust, and in checking any avoidable waste of fish-life, 

 let every well-conducted method of capturing the sea-fishes be 

 free from unnecessary restrictions. 



