Fisheries 
108 
than in low. It follows naturally that fishing, as an industry, is of 
most importance in the north temperate zone. Additional reasons 
for the greater development of the industry in the cool regions are 
the less abundant supplies of food on land, and the fact that it is 
less difficult to preserve fish in cool weather. 
In high latitudes the fish that are most prized live in shallow waters 
where food is abundant. Hence numerous bays, shoals, and banks 
along the northwestern and especially the northeastern coasts of the 
United States are the great fishing grounds of the country. 
ATLANTIC COAST FISHERIES 
The greatest fishing region in the world is on the banks, or shal- 
lows, that extend from near the Massachusetts coast northeast to 
the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Here the ships of many nations 
— the United States, Norway, England, France, Portugal, and other 
countries — share the rich harvest of the sea. Each country has 
exclusive fishing privileges within three miles of its own shores. 
Beyond this limit, fishing is free to all. 
Cod fishing on the Grand Banks. A good way to understand 
the fisherman's life is to board a schooner at Boston or Gloucester, and 
go to the Grand Banks with the fishermen. Arriving at the Banks, 
about the middle of June, the crew of fifteen or twenty men lower into 
Fic. 82. The great commercial fishing areas of the world are: (1) the northeastern coast of 
North America; (2) the seas of northeastern Europe — the North Sea, the sea between Norway 
and Iceland, the Baltic Sea; (3) the northwestern coast of North America. Areas of secondary 
importance are (1) the Japanese coasts; (2) the Mediterranean Sea: (3) the Adriatic; (4) the 
Caspian; (5) the White Sea. Fishing is of great importance in many places where the product 
does not enter into commerce, as along the coast of China and throughout the tropical islands of 
the world ;: in these localities fish are sold in the local markets almost as soon as they are caught.