"LIVES OF MEN. "
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") much regret that I cannot allow Mr. Frewen the last word. He says that the N.S.F.P.A. "prefer high prices . even though, as they admit themselves, such prices involve a restricted consumption." That is not so. The Association has printed and published its belief that, "with efficient distribu- tion, fish should be plentiful and cheap." It is concentrating on measures for the improvement of distribution, with the express purpose of popularizing and cheapening fish food. There is not the slightest danger of our fishermen being unable to land plentiful supplies. There is a very grave danger indeed that they will shortly land more fish than can be distributed without waste. Neither fishermen nor traders—none, at any rate, of the many who are intimately known to me—have any animus against imports of fish from Newfoundland or elsewhere. The present high prices are due to the war-time dislocation of an industry which has just been thanked by the Admiralty for its "cordial and whelmhearted co-operation" in the war. It ill becomes a community which owes its very existence to the fishing marine to make unfounded insinuations against the motives of men who have made every sacrifice for the country. In reconstructing their industry they ask the aid of the State, and, with the best will in the world, the State is at the present moment not no organized as to be able to help them. That is the position in a nutshell. They do not "worship at the shrine of Billingsgate " (whatever that may mean), nor (with Mr. Frewen) at that of Pandora! They know what they want plentiful plentiful supplies of fish brought to as many British tables as possible. They have explained in detail the means by which they expect to attain their object. They know their business. And they are happy in the assurance that the Empire Resources Development Committee, and all,„good patriots, will co-operate with them—remembering always that in peace or war fish are "Lives of Men."—I am. Sir, Ae., G. C. L. IL
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