El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-01

VI ? ASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. IL
w q family with money to spend
was TO complain that its mem
bers were insuniciently fed, because
they would not take the trouble TO Or
der things from the grocer and butcher,
one might be excused for saying that
they deserved TO starve.
This, in the view Of the government
fisheries bureau, is Just about equiya-
lent to the situation IN which the people
Of the United States md themselves
when they complain Of the rise in the
cost Of food supplies. For there is
enough food readily at hand, and
easily obtainable from sources as yet
untouched. to furnish the entire popula-
tiOn of this country with subsistence
Paved With Dainty DeIieaey.
OF the north Atlantic coast less
than 100 miles, out, and extending all
the way from Cape Cod to Cape Hat
teras, is the most wonderful fishing
ground in the WOrld-as yet practically
virgin 10 the fisherman, and so far
unexplOred that only within the last
very few years have its Imitless re-
sources come to be known even 10 the
fisheries bureau II IS a subaQueOus
territory as big as several states Of the
union, literally swarming with food
fishes and mollusks Of the highest
edible and commercial value Almost
literally II is paved with a species Of
sole that is equal in table quality to
the much-prized sole Of Europe. It
embraces one bed Of giant scaIlOps 800
miles long and averaging 80 miles in
width, recently discovered, which
easily accessible, could be made to
supply the whole United States with a
delicacy not inferior to the oyster, at a
low cost For one other item. il offers
the "tiledsh," which, far superior to the
cod, might readily contribute as largely
as the latter in quantity TO the dietary
Of the American people
MusseIs a Good Food.
A good deal has been published re-
Gently about the availability Of com
man mussels as food. A factory in
Providence is preparing them in this
way IN great quantities, and especially
IN Boston they are finding a steadily
increasing market. Thus one may now
buy "spiced mUssels" in cans; 'musseI
cocktail resembling osyter coc6taiD,
in small glass jars; or ported mussels,"
which, having the form OF paste, can
be spread on bread like ported ham.
That we in this country should never
have made any use OF mussels is aston
1shlng- In Europe they are esteemed
equally with oysters On our own
shores they are more abundant than
the latter they are quite as palatable,
more nutritious, particularly suitable
Tor inValids by reason OF their diges-
tibility, and have the additional adVan-
tage Of being in season when oysters
are out Our bays and estuaries from
North Carolina TO Maine, and from san
Francisco to Alaska are full Of them.
Beds Of them often acres in extent are
found on the mud or sand flats at low
tidemark, and in deeper water they can
be dredged by the ton There are
places in Narragausett bay where a
man can easily collect so bushels of
mussels in a day
The ocean of our north Atlantic coas
Is shallow, deepening very gradually.
Scientists say that this is because the
eastern edge OF the continent is over
flowed by the sea Thus is formed
what is called the continental shelf"
which widens toward the north. reach
ing a breadth Of something like 100
miles OF Boston.
UnexpIOred Sea Territory.
Now, it Is this shelf. out beyond the
shadows, that is the home OF the rich
and varied marine fauna described. I
Beyond a depth Of 100 fathoms or so. I
It is practically unexpl0red territory.
Thus It came about that only a short /
time ago, the fisheries bureau steamer /
Grampus, while making a trip from
Boston to Norfolk, and hauling a deep-
sea net along the bottom, made the 4
astonishing discovery of the bed of I
giant scallops already mentioned.
scallops Of this species. highly /
priced for its edible quality, have been
deemed rarity The bed. It appears.
extends all the way from Block island !