78 COD FISHERY^ 



In this manner, beds of cod are arranged, fo as 

 to form a pile of thirty, forty, or fifty barrels, in 

 fhort, of as many as can be got ready in one day ; 

 and on the next day, the fame operation is recom- 

 menced. 



'It is eafy to conceive, that the fifli, which is in 

 the lower part of the piles, is, as it were, under a 

 prefs, and that it drips better than that, which is 

 in the upper part; on this account, after three or 

 four days the piles are changed, fo as to place un- 

 dermoft, what was uppermoft before. It is of 

 great confequence to keep the ,fh from the fun- 

 fliine, even when it is in barrel, on which account 

 all thefe operations are carried on under a fhed. 



Eight days after, when the cod has dripped 

 enough, it is put into barrels, that have feveral 

 holes near the rim, for the purpofe of letting out 

 the brine, formed by the fait that is put into them ; 

 but, before this is done, the fifh is weighed : for, 

 in France, every barrel mufl contain 26olb. of 

 fifh, (fixteen ounces to the pound) and forty Ib. 

 of white fait. 



When weighing the fifh, they fort them ; 

 fuch as are fmall, poor, red, or fpoiled, arc 

 laid afide ; they keep, however, thofe that are not 

 very fmall, as it is ufual to fell this fort of fifli 

 by the pound. It is afterwards carried under 

 the ftied to be barreled, which is done in the fol- 

 lowing manner. 



The 



