A VORACIOUS COD. 63 



and shattered, but to be swept away by " ocean-monsters" 

 imprisoned in the mesh-work ; when the fishermen adopted 

 the plan, now universally pursued, of " long-line " fishing. 

 The depths to which these lines are sunk varies with the 

 time of year, being from five to twenty fathoms during 

 the season of shore-fishing, which begins in April ; and 

 from thirty to forty fathoms when the crews follow the 

 fish as they recede from the shore, and continue to take 

 them at these great depths until December, when winter 

 arrests their energy. In spring the traders approach the 

 banks as early as practicable, with the view of securing a 

 good station ; and as soon as the vessels have cast anchor, 

 the surrounding waters literally seem alive with the boats 

 sent out to procure bait. Various kinds are used, but, 

 owing to the voracity of the cod, all succeed; it will 

 swallow not only every kind of fish and shell-fish, whole 

 or in fragments, fresh or salted, but even bits of wood or 

 red cloth. 



In reference to this voracity, Mr. Badham tells a 

 curious story. A fish, which once on a time furnished 

 the University of Cambridge with a religious feast, was 

 the occasion of a tract entitled Vox Piscis, or the Book 

 Fish, containing three treatises, found in the belly of a 

 cod in Cambridge market, Midsummer Eve, 1626. It is 

 said that this learned fish was caught in Lynn Deeps, 

 and carried to the Vice-Chancellor by the beadle on the 

 discovery of a book within it. As it made its appearance 

 at the Commencement, the very time when good learning 

 and good cheer are expected, it was quaintly remarked 

 that " this sea-guest had brought his book and his car- 

 cass to furnish both." But, as Badham observes, it is 

 to be hoped the learning he brought in his belly was 



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