As a major science, oceanography is young, and to most nations a relatively remote business of water-temperature graphs or current lines on a chart. But last week Japanese fishing vessels, trailing long, baited lines off the Canary Islands, hauling dragnets along banks off Kamchatka, were providing a dramatic demonstration of how skillful interpretation of those graphs and lines can pay off.
Japan has always depended on the sea; 80% of the protein in the Japanese diet comes from seafood. Before World War II it was the leading fishing nation. But after the war the U.S., the U.S.S.R., Canada, Red China, Korea and...
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