OF VALUE.

125

« If with the same quantity of labour, a less
quantity of fish, or a greater quantity of game
were obtained, the value of fish would rise in
comparison with that of game. If, on the con-
trary, with the same quantity of labour a less
quantity of game, or a greater quantity of fish
was obtained, game would rise in comparison
with fish.

«If there were any other commodity, which
was invariable in its value, we should be able
to ascertain, by comparing the value of fish
and game with this commodity, how much of
the variation was to be attributed to a cause
which affected the value of fish, and how much
to a cause which affected the value of game.

« Suppose money to be that commodity. If
a salmon were worth £1, and a deer £2, one
deer would be worth two salmon. But a deer
might become of the value of three salmon, for
more labour might be required to obtain the deer,
or less to get the salmon; or both these causes
might operate at the same time. If we had
this invariable standard, we might easily as-