48 Fisheries of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



keel is of birch; the timbers of cedar; and the planks of pine or 

 cedar. A boat will last from six to eight years, and so will the 

 sails also, with care. 



The quintal, by which Cod are always sold, is 1121b of dry fish. 

 It is considered a good day's fishing, at Miscou, for one of these 

 boats to take ten quintals of Fish, which they frequently do. When 

 first caught, 112 of the small fish, and 30 of the large size, are 

 reckoned to the quintal. 



Nearly all the fishermen of Shippagan aud the Bay of Chaleur, 

 split, salt, and cure their own fish. When they do not, 2521b of 

 green fish, salted and drained, are given to a curer, to return 1121b 

 of merchantable dry fish. 



The boats, as they return from the fishing banks, run alongside 

 a stage built over the water, upon which the fish are thrown out. 

 The first man that handles the fish cuts its throat with a single 

 stroke of his knife, and slides it along a sort of table to another, 

 who whips off the head, and throws it, with the entrails, through a 

 hole in the table, into the water underneath, retaining only the 

 liver, which is thrown into a tierce to make oil. The next man 

 splits the fish, and takes out the back-bone ; on the manner in 

 which these operations are performed, the quality of the Fish for 

 market, in a great degree depends. They are then washed, and 

 rubbed with salt, in which they remain for six or eight days ; then, 

 being again well washed, they are placed in what is called a 

 "horse pile," to drain. After draining twenty four hours, they 

 are spread out to dry on long narrow wicker frames or stages, set 

 up on purpose, called "flakes." They require to be frequently 

 turned to prevent their being " sun-burnt," or salt-burnt;" and 

 they cure in about three weeks, xt is not well to cure them too 

 fast ; they are best when dried moderately. 



After the Fish are sufficiently cured, they are collected and laid 

 in small circles, with the tails outwards ; these circles are con- 

 tinually built upon, each row being larger than the one below it, 

 until the pile is about three feet high, when the circles begin to 

 diminish so as to form a conical roof; this is covered with birch 

 bark, and stones are placed upon it. The piles are thus rendered 

 impervious to the heaviest rains; and in this position, the Fish 

 are left to season before being packed for exportation. 



The Bay of Chaleur Cod are more prized in the markets of the 

 Mediterranean, and, will, at all times, sell there more readily, and 

 at higher prices, than any other. They are beautifully white ; and 



