THE WORLD'S POPULATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 14

THE WORLD'S POPULATION.

Sir, —It seems to me that the kilown tendencies relating to the problem of the possible over-peopling of this planet are receiving too much emphasis, and, that the tendencies, equally potent, though not capable 'of even approximate calculation, are, to a large extent, ignored. It is comparatively easy to calculate by means of percentages how many inhabitants there are likely to be on the earth in a given time, but not so with the potential increase in food supplies on the one hand and reduced food-needs on the other. Without speaking of the constant improvements which are taking place in the means and methods of land cultivation, and which will doubtless go on indefinitely. let us consider what is rarely taken into "account, the practically unlimited sources of sustenance in the oceans and rivers. Three-fourths of the superficies of the earth is covered with water. The fishing grounds operated on to date comprise but an infinitesimal fraction of the whole. With negligible exceptions the waters of the globe teem with fish which breed independently of man's attention or care. Land cultivation, on the contrary, entails arduous work of production." including harvesting: the fruits of the sea only require the latte" The natural fish supplies, could they bp tapped, are incalculable. What if thewere scientifically cultivated ? A singl" pair of trout placed in a fishless rive r will produce millions of their kind in pi incrediblv short time. Surely the tial food obtainable from . the wateelement, added to other supplies. mi' 5 ' be sufficient to sustenance foany increase in population which can be foreseen. And in an opposite direction what are the possibilities of science : r> relation to the reduction of food quantities sufficient to sustain life ? It is generally agreed that we eat a great <oo much in a quantitative sense. W'th a reduction in bulk and an increase in nutriment our food may possibly bo re- \ T olutionised. The dav may come when we will carrv a week's supply of f'>od irr the vest pocket Avrr-M\i.THrs.