COD, POLLOCK. HADDOCK AND HAKE. 339 



from them they have absorbed the red coloring matter into their tissues. 

 " Rockling " are probably young Rock Cod. In the vicinity of Scituate, 

 Mass., Rock Cod are also called " Native Cod." 



Another class of names appears to apply to those fish which live near 

 the shores, but which are less closely limited to the reefs. These are 

 called "Shoal-water Cod," Shore Cod," " Inshore Cod," "Worm-cod," 

 "Clam-Cod," "Black Snappers," "Black Biters," "Brown Cod," 

 " Ground Keepers," and " Ground Tenders " or " Groupers." 



Still another class of fish is known by such names as " Deep-water 

 Cod," "Bank Cod," and "School Cod. 



There are also certain local schools of fish which have names of their 

 own; for instance, the "Herring Fish" or "Herring Cod" of South- 

 eastern Maine, and the " Squid School " of Nantucket and other parts of 

 the coast, the "Pasture School" of Cape Ann, and the so-called "Shad 

 School " which frequented Massachusetts Bay between 181 5 and 1S30. 



In Southeastern Maine the name " Pine-tree Cod " is also in use. It is 

 difficult at present to determine exactly to what extent these names are 

 used and what their precise meaning may be, but it is almost certain that 

 each community of fishermen has its own peculiar names by which to 

 designate local peculiarities of habit and movement. 



In the markets, the Cod from George's Bank are usually classed as 

 " George's Fish," and are considered to be of superior value. George's 

 fish are very fat fish with white " napes." This name is becoming a com- 

 mercial term to describe Codfish of the finest quality. No one of these 

 names, excepting Rock Cod, or Red Cod, appears to be in use in Great 

 Britain, although there, as here, there are various names of local signifi- 

 cance, which are of little interest, however, to Americans. 



"Bank Cod" and "Shore Cod" are commercial names, used in the 

 same manner as the name " George's Cod." 



As early as 141 5 A. D., English vessels frequented the fishing grounds 

 near Iceland, and it is claimed by some authorities that the Banks of 

 Newfoundland were known to the Basques centuries before the discovery of 

 the American continent. The Banks of Newfoundland were among the 

 principal inducements which led the English to establish colonies in this 

 country, and in the records of early voyages are many allusions to the 

 abundance of Cod along our shores. 



A Nova Scotia coin or bank-token has upon it the figure of a Codfish. 



