CHAP, xviii. LABRADOE AND NEWFOUNDLAND COD. 307 



long, and there are no intervals of a few hours of sunshine 

 to admit of its being spread out again. 



When the cod is sufficiently dry, large round piles are 

 made containing as much as a ton and a half of fish each, 

 and covered with birch bark and heavy stones. By the 

 pressure of these it is deprived of the little moisture 

 retained in it, and after remaining in this state for some 

 weeks it is put into dry stores, where it is left until the 

 time comes for sending it to the best markets. But 

 before it is shipped, it is spread out on ground covered 

 with fine gravel during the warm hours of the day, 

 to give it its ' last sunning ' or c parting sun,' and ex- 

 tract from it any damp it may have contracted in the 

 store. 



In fine weather and during the dry season, when 

 westerly winds predominate, cod is easily cured, and 

 made of the first quality. It is not so when the easterly 

 and south-easterly winds prevail, and bring upon the 

 coasts mists and rains that last for a week. This is an 

 anxious time for the fishermen, for in spite of every pos- 

 sible care and precaution, they frequently see the fish 

 spoiled before their eyes, without its being in their power 

 by any means whatever to obviate the destructive effects 

 of the dampness ; for when the fish has been washed and 

 is exposed on the flakes, it cannot be taken into the stores 

 until it is perfectly dry ; it can only be turned so as to 

 expose the skin to the moisture. 



In ordinary seasons from five to six per cent, of the 

 dried cod fish is of second quality ; in rainy seasons from 

 fifteen to twenty per cent, is thus deteriorated. 



It is on the coasts of Gaspe, where the effects of the 



x 2 



