Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8:7

"And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed them, he commanded to set these also before them." — Mark 8:7 (ASV)

Only seven loaves (cf. 6:38) were available to feed the crowd of four thousand (v.9). The people were not ordered into groups, but simply were on the ground. Jesus gave thanks separately for the bread and the fish, and after each prayer the disciples distributed the food to the people.