72 COD FISHERY. 



and it is ufed at prefent with good fuccefs for falt- 

 ing herrings. 



It appears, alfo, that this fort of fait could be 

 improved, by expofing it to the air and fun, or 

 by putting it under ftieds. As fait, which has 

 been kept in the holds of veffels, imbibes a great 

 deal of moillure, it has lefs ftrength than dry fait. 

 Befidcs, dry fait, by attracting the moifture of the 

 fifh, contributes more to its prefervation, than 

 damp fait can do. By the name of old fait, they 

 underfland fait, which has been made ufe of in 

 fal ting cod, and which remains after unloading the 

 cargoes. It is fit only for faking hides, yet, fome 

 people make ufe of it for other purpofes, by mix- 

 ing it with new fait, and fometimes they barter it 

 for new fait, giving three barrels for one. 



Of the Oil of Cod-fijh. 



The Icelanders collect the cod's livers with great 

 care, and put them in cafks, wherein they fer- 

 ment and melt, for about fix weeks, after which, 

 they take out the oil. They often mix it with 

 whale oil, without boiling ; but afterwards, they 

 boil the grofs part, and extract from it an inferior 

 fort of oil, which they mix with other oils of the 

 fame fort, and call it thran brun. The whole of 

 it is fold to Danifti merchants. 



