COD FISHERY. 1 13 



the only one they pra&ife at prefent. They call 

 it klipp-fijh, becaufe it is dried upon rocks. The 

 preparing of it is, however, lefs troublefome to 

 the Norwegians, becaufe the pure and fmart air of 

 their climate dries it up very foon. It is alfo 

 whiter than that of the Bafques, and keeps as well. 

 There is a great confumption of it in the Mediter- 

 ranean, where it is much efteemed. 



It will not be amifs here to mention the reafons, 

 that induce them to prefer fiftiing with nets, to 

 that with hooks. 



It is proved by experience, that the caufe of a 

 fifhery being unproductive, is not fo much the 

 fcarcity of fifh, as that the fifh will not bite at the 

 hook, which always happens, when the cod finds 

 fifh enough to feed upon, which they prefer to 

 the fifhermen's baits. In this cafe, which is very 

 common, the hook becomes ufelefs, and no other 

 mode of fiiliing will do but that with nets. 



It is with nets that the largeft and fattefl fifh 

 are taken. In the fifhing feafon, in Norway, if 

 the water is very clear and tranfparent, one may 

 fee the largeft and fattefl fifh lying at the bottom, 

 while the poorer fort of fifh keeps nearer the fur- 

 face of the fea. The firfl fort can be taken only 

 with nets, and the other fort bites at the hook, if 

 it finds nothing better to feed upon, but that is 

 alfo. taken in nets. 



The cod, that is taken in this manner, affords 

 a much greater quantity of oil and eggs, than that, 



i which 



