CHAPTER XV 



THE COD FISHERY IN RECENT YEARS 



When the members-elect of the House of Eepresentatives 

 of Massachusetts met in January, 1895, to organize and 

 to make plans for removal from the accustomed chamber 

 to the new chamber in the State House extension, the ques- 

 tion of taking with them the ' * representation of a codfish, ' 

 which for more than 100 years had never missed a roll call, 

 was brought up for consideration. A committee was ap- 

 pointed to look up the history of this famous emblem and 

 its significance in the Hall of Representatives, and the 

 committee later made an interesting report of its findings. 

 The House ordered that the ancient "representation of a 

 codfish' be removed from the old chamber to the new one 

 in order that the House of 1895 might further the intent 

 and purpose of the House of 1784, wherein it was voted 

 to ' ' hang the representation of a codfish in the room, where 

 the House sit, as a memorial of the importance of the cod- 

 fishery to the welfare of this Commonwealth, as had been 

 usual formerly. ' ' 1 



A committee, appointed for the purpose of removal, re- 

 paired to the old chamber. The emblem was lowered from 

 its abiding place, wrapped in the American flag, deposited 

 upon a bier, and borne by members of the House. As the 

 procession entered the new chamber, the members arose, 

 the historic emblem was received with a vigorous round 

 of applause, and deposited upon the table in front of the 

 Speaker's chair, between the two sets of central columns, 



i A History of the Emblem of the Codfish. 



276 



