Part 16 (2/2)

”Still an unknown universe! Lurking in the utter darkness of the scarce-fathomed deeps of the ocean, what Kraken e-eyed forht of phosphorescent lamps they bear upon their bodies? Many of these there are, every year teaches of new species The land--oh! the land is all well known, even the Arctic and Antarctic regions no longer hide their secrets, but the ocean is inscrutable Ser, she baffles us and her inmost shrines are still inviolate”

The professor checked hi been carried away by enthusiaset at some of the secrets to-, as the trap is to be hauled at slack water”

Acting on the hint, Colin bade his host good-night, but his sleep was fitful and restless The sudden passionate speech of the grave scholar had been a revelation to the boy, and whereas he had felt a desire for the Fisheries Bureau before, he kne that it had been largely with the sense of novelty and adventure But the professor's words had given hiht be He felt like a knight of the olden ti of knighthood, had been granted a vision of all his service ht that the question he was to ask his father could have but the one answer, that the great decision of his life was made, his as cut out to do

Shortly after daybreak the next , Colin was called and he dressed hurriedly After a hearty breakfast in which steel-head trout figured largely, he went down to the pier on the water and was not sorry to have the chance of showing his host that he was a good canoeist

”How large is the work of the Bureau now, Professor?” asked Colin, as the light craft shot down the nificent stretches of the Colus and shtly,” was the reply ”Of course, a large proportion of these fish did not reach maturity, but perhaps half a billion did so, and half a billion fish is an immense contribution to the food supply of the world”

”But aren't there always lots of fish in the sea?” asked Colin ”When you coh there must be so many that the number we catch wouldn't make any sort of impression on them”

”Think a bit,” said the professor ”You've just come down from the Pribilof Islands How did you findof seals been harmful, or were there so many seals still in the sea that it didn't ic sealing had nearly killed off the entire species,”

said Colin, ”but, somehow, fish seem different Oh, yes, I knohy

Seals only have one pup at a tiood reply,” the professor agreed, ”but as it that pelagic sealing was so bad? Was it done all the year round?”

[Illustration: MILLIONS OF THESE HATCHED YEARLY

Brook Trout just hatching, showing fry with egg-sacs still attached

_Courtesy of the National Geographic Magazine_]

”No,” said Colin, ”principally when the feround”

”And the Pribilof Islands are only a se of oceans the seal cover during the rest of the year?”

”Very small”

”Then,” said the other, ”it is easy to see that the respective size of land and water has very little to do with the general fishery question

But if a seal or a fish must come to the land or to narrow rivers to spawn, it follows thatshall continue or not, doesn't it?”

”Yes,” agreed Colin, ”I suppose it does”

”And if you protect the seals, the herd will increase”

”It ought to”

”Very good That is just the e are doing here The salmon come into fresh water to spawn--just like shad and a number of other species of fish--and when you kill a salmon just about to ascend the river, you destroy at the saht sal up a stream?” said Colin in surprise