CHAP, xviii. THE COD FISHERY. 299 



attention of the fishermen of Canada. As to the mackerel 

 fishery, it may be said to have been hitherto almost 

 entirely neglected. The advantage of prosecuting this 

 branch of industry on a large scale is left to the United 

 States fishermen, to whom it is a source of considerable 

 gain. In Canada, at present, the mackerel fishery is 

 practised only in boats along the shore, when the cod 

 fishery is not productive. It has never been made a 

 special object of pursuit. 



THE COD FISHERY. 



The cod is abundant on the coasts of the different 

 provinces of British America in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 

 It is generally found at a depth of from twenty-five to 

 sixty fathoms, and is seldom taken in more than seventy- 

 five fathoms. But when the instinct of reproduction is 

 felt, it approaches the shore in pursuit of the caplin, 

 which it then makes its chief food, and remains for six or 

 eight weeks in twelve, eight, and even five fathoms. It 

 is then that the taking of this fish can be most successfully 

 carried on. 



The cod appears on the Canadian coasts at uncertain dates, 

 generally between the 10th of May and the 1st of June, 

 but sometimes later. It has some favourite feeding-grounds 

 where it is found in far greater quantities than elsewhere. 

 These are also the places which present the greatest ad- 

 vantages for the preservation and hatching of the spawn. 

 Having deposited its spawn, the cod withdraws to the 

 banks, where it always finds food in sufficient quantities 

 to satisfy its well-known voracity. 



Cod are found in great quantities along the coast of 



