LETTER LVI. 



fish being then in the highest perfection, and the state 

 of the atmosphere the most proper for its curing. 

 The method of taking them is by the hook and line, 

 and the fishermen dra\v them in as fast as they can 

 throw out for them. Stages are erected along the 

 shore for salting raid drying the lish ; and the num- 

 bers caught would be sufficient to exterminate the 

 species, had not the wisdom of Providence bountifully 

 ordained that the fecundity of this fish, so beneficial 

 to mankind, should keep pace with the annual de- 

 predations. This astonishing fecundity would surpass 

 conception, as well as belief, were it not ascertained 

 by experiment. Leewenhoeck counted nine millions 

 three hundred a^nd eighty-four thousand eggs in a cod 

 fish of a moderate size. The fact exhibits a grand 

 display of creative wisdom, in thus proportioning the 

 measure of propagation and destruction in the system 

 of animal existence.. 



The greatest part of the cod taken on the banks of 

 Newfoundland, is disposed of in the Catholic countries 

 of Europe during the time of Lent. Considerable 

 numbers, indeed, are used in our own island; but 

 these are mostly caught on our own coasts, and gene- 

 rally eaten fresh. The cod is also found in tolerable 

 plenty on the coasts of Norway, in the Baltic, and in 

 most parts of the British seas. More southward they 

 are less plentiful, and are never seen further towards 

 that quarter than the Straits of Gibraltar. 



Thus, my dear Sir, you see in this lish an important 

 object of attention, not only to the naturalist, but also 

 to the merchant and the politician. If you consider 

 the number of ships, and consequently of shipwrights, 

 with other mechanics concerned in the dhTerent de- 

 partments of. ship-building, and also of sailors and 

 fishermen employed in this trade, as well as in the 

 herring and whale fishery, you will perceive what 

 numbers of the human species derive their subsistence, 

 ffiom these inhabitants of the ocean, of which the as- 

 tonishing fecundity is to several nations, and particu- 

 larly to Great Britain, an inexhaustible source oi 

 wealth. 



