Economical Uses of the Cod at Newfoundland. 35 



according to the present mode of curing, which is, with the ex- 

 ception of a very trifling proportion, by drying the fish in the 

 sun. Cannot be carried on farther north tlian a certain latitude. 



The fishery of Newfoundland commences in June, as soon as 

 the capelin appears on the coast, and ends about the beginning 

 of September, when the cuttle-fish begins to move off from the 

 shores. The capelin is the bait used during the first month or 

 six weeks, and after that the cuttle-fish. 



When bait is scarce, considerable numbers of cod are caught 

 hy jigging ; the jiggei's being an artificial bait, with hooks af- 

 fixed. 



The process of curing the cod requires about a month in 

 favourable weather. 



Of the four hundred millions and upwards of cod that are 

 taken annually out of the British North American Seas, about 

 one hundred millions^ or upwards of sixty thousand tons, are ex- 

 ported in a dried state by the Britishj to the warm countries of 

 Europe and America : Of the remainder, a part equal to double 

 that of the British is taken avvay by the Americans,^ — a part by 

 the French, — and a part is consumed in the countries themselves. 



It is from the livers of the cod-fish, that the cod-oil of com- 

 merce is made. These are exposed in casks, and sometimes in 

 vats, to the sun, and the heat in all these countries is sufficient 

 to render them into oil *. There is a falling off, some years, in 

 the average quantity of oil obtained from the cod throughout 

 the British fisheries ; but as the French have the exclusive pri- 

 vilege of fishing at those parts of the island where the different 

 kinds of fish abound most, it is probable that the quantity of 

 oil in proportion to the quantity of fish caught, including all 

 the fisheries, in any one year may not vary much. 



As the sun withdraws from the north, the temperature of the 

 surface-water decreases ; its vivifying principle vanishes, and it 

 is no longer inviting to the free inhabitants of the deep. The 

 cuttle-fish begins to retire, and with it man ends his warfare with 

 the cod. All feel the warning, and begin to retire to the strong- 

 holds in their respective elements, leaving the field of their in^ 



• There ought to be obtained from all the cod caught, twenty-five thousand 

 tons of oil, about five to six thousand tons of which are exported by the British, 

 chiefly to Britain- 



I' o 



