Coronado Eagle and Journal, Volume 8, Number 19, 20 September 1919 — EXTENSION OF MARINE RESOURCES [ARTICLE]

EXTENSION OF MARINE RESOURCES

fFrom La Jolla Journal) By W. E. Allen, Scripps Biological Institution. Interesting and important information about the great sea whose waves beat on our shores. As has already been said at another time, primitive man was quite aware of his interests in the sea, and since he knew little or nothing as to means of cultivation, we may be sure that he gave a great deal of attention to extension of marine resources. Like modern man, his activity in such lines was undoubtedly conditioned by the pinch or by the fear of hunger. If abundance of satisfying food lay ready to hand he cared nothing as to what better foods, in greater abundance might be obtained with a little more effort. In times of famine, however, no stone would be left unturned if it might conceal an edible object, no search would be spared so long as the hope of finding food was ahead, and no animal or plant would be neglected without trial, however uninviting it might appear. c So we, in our time, have been careless of the resources about us and reckless in the expenditure of those in onr hands until a world crisis has caused our eyes to open to the fact that many of us are threatened not only with discomfort but with actual want. So, like our ancient forbears, we are driven to look about us with anxious eye to see what fields are onen for new or more abundant uses. The sea is only one, but it is an important one of these fields. * Now, it may appear to an inlander that any talk about extension of the resources of the sea is useless to him because he is not in direct contact with that field. But, under our present conditions of existence, this .is not true, mainly because because some of the possible extension cannot be made unless a large number of people are Willing to use the product after it is available. Our Pacific herring is an excellent food fish which can be easily taken through about five months of the year. These facts together with that of its enormous productivity mark this resource as one of the first importance, yet it has little use in this state. Here we have an excellent example of an interest of known merit whose extension waits upon the favorable attention and increasing demand of our people. The shad, a transplanted resource and at one time an interest of recognized standing illustrates the same thing. The waning market ten years ago almost destroyed the shad industry-and now over-fishing in favor of foreign and Eastern markets threatens destruction of the fish itself. In both cases the people of this state have neglected this interest to their own hurt and in the latter case to the advantage of appreciative outsiders. Now that food is so hard to getr at living prices it seems very desirable to give such interests the local extension which they deserve, by increasing the market demand. In this connection we may need to be reminded also that the sardine fisheries are not yet so well established on our Coast but that they need the support of both sea-board and inland markets. At the same time that he gives such support the consumer can serve his own personal interest very directly, because this is a food of the highest excellence which he can get at medium pries. There is abundant reason to think that there are other food resources of high quality' which can be taken from the sea in quantity when the demand becomes great enough, and most of that demand must come from inland. There are four principal lines along which extension of our resources may be attempted. These are, discovery of uses for sea products now ignored, introduction of new kinds which can be maintained, discovery of additional uses for many of those already in use, and increasing the market to such a point as to meet the expense of gathering such products. As to sea products now ignored, a few illustrations may suffice. The