HUNTING AND FISHING A long time ago people lived mostly by hunting and fishing. Every man had his bow and arrows and when he became hungry killed what animals he needed for food. He caught fish by means of traps made of sticks woven together. These he placed in a stream where there was a rapid or waterfall.
When people became civilized they did not depend so much upon hunting and fishing for their food. They tamed some of the wild animals and raised large herds and flocks. They also discovered that many wild plants could be made to furnish food when they were cultivated.
We have much better weapons for killing wild animals than our grandfathers had .a long time ago. Our guns have destroyed the animals so rapidly that in many places very few are left.
We have also invented great nets and sharp hooks to catch fish, so that in many streams the fish are nearly gone. The ocean, however, is so large that we can never catch all the fish out of it.
Is it not wrong to kill the animals and birds for sport? Our grandfathers killed them only when they were hungry. Our world would be rather lonely without the pretty birds and graceful animals. We must protect them instead of wastefully destroy ing them.
The most of the meat which is now use for food is supplied by animals that have been tamed. Food is only one of the many useful things which the herds of cattle and sheep afford us.
Streams where much fishing is done are now supplied with young fish from places called hatch eries. In such places fish are collected and their spawn or eggs saved. When the eggs are hatched the little fish are sent to those streams where they are needed.
The most of the men whose occupation is fish ing live by the large lakes or along the ocean. They spend their whole lives catching fish for the market. A part of the fish which they catch is sold fresh. Some kinds of fish are canned. Others are salted and dried.
The life of the fisherman is a hard one. He has to be out in the rain and storm. He often spends days without catching anything.
The whale and seal are hunted in the far north where the tnost of these animals make their home.
The life of the whaler is more dangerous than that of the fisherman. He has to stay in the Arctic ocean and among the icebergs for many months. Many whaling ships have been caught and crushed in the ice.
We can no longer depend upon wild animals for our food, as people did long ago. There are more people in the world now and many of the animals which were abundant once have all been killed.
Some are found now in only a few places. These will soon be gone if we do not take better care of them.
Birds, animals and fish furnish us many things that we need. We cannot do without them. They also help make our world a pleasant place in which to live.
Who is it that raises our corn and wheat? Who is it that comes to town with fat chickens and bright red apples? We call him the farmer, and his work farming.
We think there is no nicer place than a pretty farm to spend a part of the summer. There we can get fresh butter and milk and pure water. We have such happy times romping in the fields and woods. There are no narrow streets and tall buildings to shut out the sun. The work of the farmer is hard, but he has the bright, happy world about him.
The farmer boy often thinks the farm is not a pleasant place. He wants to go to the city. He forgets how much he would lose if he left the farm. He has around him the birds and animals, and green trees. He can go swimming and fishing. In the city he would be like a bird in a cage.
There are many different kinds of farming. In one place the soil and climate make fine apples. There the country is dotted with orchards.
In another place where the land is moist there are great meadows. There upon the meadows are thousands of cattle feeding. This is where butter and cheese are made.
In the hot valleys where the summers are long and dry there are miles and miles of vineyards. Here they make raisins by drying the grapes in the sun. From the juice of the grapes wine is made.
Upon the plains and prairies we find wheat fields stretching as far as the eye can reach. How pretty the grain looks, when nearly ripe, waving in the afternoon breeze. From these fields the grain, after being ground into flour, is shipped to all parts of the world.
Near the cities there are extensive gardens where many people are employed. Each morning some one comes to our doors bringing berries and vegetables fresh from these gardens.
The best farms are where the soil is deep and there is plenty of water. In most places it rains enough so that the farmer can raise all he wishes. In other places ditches many miles long are dug.
Through these, water is led from some river, and then allowed to flow over the land. This is called irrigation.
In selecting a farm we think that the kind of soil is important. Water is even more important. Without water the richest soil would be only a desert.