The Exploitation of the Sea-Fisheries

Abstract

THE sea-fisheries as a source of food was the subject of an interesting series of letters published by the Times between February 8 and 18. First of all, Dr. W. S. Bruce directed attention to the abund ance of whales and seals in Antarctic seas, and in quired whether Lord Rhondda and “the National Service” had sought advice about all this. Ought not “canning factories and refrigerating vessels to be started immediately in the rich Antarctic whaling grounds”? There are, he stated, whale meat there which “is better to eat and tastes better than beef”; seals and penguins, also an additional meat supply; and “millions and millions of new-laid penguin eggs, larger and better than hen's eggs.” Other correspondents supported these remarks, but they did not suggest where the canning factories and refrigerating vessels were to be constructed, nor did they show that it was sounder economics to send fishermen and large vessels, to high Antarctic latitudes rather than employ men and small motor-driven vessels to obtain the fish that is plentifull enough just now a few miles away from our own shores.