COD FISHERY. 79 



The women, whofe bufmefs it is to barrel the 

 cod, begin the operation by putting a couple of 

 handfuls of fait in the bottom of the barrel, and 

 then a little fait on the flefliy part of the fifh. They 

 turn up the gills, and adapt the fifh to the interior 

 form of the barrel. Two pieces of cod, form nearly 

 a bed ; they cover it with a little fait, and continue 

 to make up fuch beds of fifh and fait, alternately. 



When the barrel is half full, the cooper puts a 

 falfe bottom on the fifli, and jumps upon it. Hav- 

 ing preffed them well, he takes off the falfe bot- 

 tom*, and the women continue to fill up the barrel. 

 It happens very often, that they are obliged to pile 

 up the fifh, to make the proper weight, higher 

 than the brim of the barrel, in which cafe, they 

 make ufe of a fort of prefs, which a&s upon a falfe 

 bottom, until the fifh is preffed down to the pro- 

 per level. The falfe bottom is then taken off; the 

 women throw what remains of the forty Ib. of fait 

 on the pile ; and the cooper clofes up the barrel. 



The whole operation terminates with piercing 

 eight holes between the lirfl and fecond hoop. 

 Through thefe holes they run fome packthread, 

 which is fattened, with a leaden mark, flamped 

 with a feal. This is done by a perfon named, 

 the Commiffary of the Salt Ferme, or at leaft, in 

 his prefence, to fhew that the barrel has been pro- 

 perly made up, and that the due quantity of fait 

 has been ufed. 



Of 



