THE COD. 25a 
offspring of the millions of fish which frequent the Newfoundland 
Bank. No wonder they are found in huge shoals when they can 
so greatly add to the numbers of their species in a single season. 
The cod-fishery is a source of revenue to every maritime nation. 
The right of fishing upon the Newfoundland Bank is a matter of 
international treaty, and many times has the infringement of this 
treaty threatened to disturb the peace of Europe. Formerly, it was 
a matter of greater moment to England than it now is. In the 
war in 1844, the French were not able to pursue the fishing, and that 
year the produce was more than 42,800,000. . This was the highest 
sum ever received by our fishermen for their labours on the bank. 
Since that year our income has steadily decreased, until in 1851, it 
only reached 4920,117, and this included the salmon and seals, 
which are often found with the cod. The reason of this decline, is 
not only the aggression of the fishermen of other nations; but it is 
ascribed to the fact, that there is not so strict an observance of 
fasts in the Catholic countries. In the Low Countries, and Spain 
especially, large quantities of dried cod were consumed during 
Lent; but the faithful have found other means of obeying the 
Church; or, perchance, they even dare to disobey. We now 
employ about 2,000 vessels, and 30,000 men in cod-fishing, the 
Americans have 3,000 smacks, and 45,000 sailors engaged in the 
same undertaking. 
The Norwegians have a fishery of their own off Cape Lindes- 
ness, where it is said they take annually 20,000,000 fish. It was 
officially reported to the king of Sweden, by the chief inspector of 
the fisheries in the neighbourhood of the Lofoden Islands, that in 
1856, 4,623 boats put to sea, and in 1860, 5,675; these carried 
7,775 line fishers, and 13,038 who employed the net. According 
to the same report, they salted on the east of Lofoden 10,080,000 
flat cod, and 2,640,000 on the west coast of the islands. They 
disposed of 9,000,000 not opened and cured ; making a total of 
more than 20,000,000. The roe filled 16,000 tuns, and the cod- 
liver oil 40,000. 
As we have already hinted, two modes are employed to take 
the fish, the net and the line. On the Newfoundland Bank, the 
net is chiefly in vogue; it is constructed like a herring net, but of 
stouter twine ; one end is fastened to the shore, the other carried 
