THE NEWFOUNDLAND FLOTILLAS. 73 



fish. The common cod-oil of commerce, we may mention 

 here, is obtained from the liver, which, when the fish 

 has been split, is taken out, stowed in puncheons, and ex- 

 posed to the heat of the sun. The oil, as it distils, is 

 drawn off into casks, and sells at about 2s. 6d. to 3s. per 

 gallon. Cod-liver oil, so highly esteemed as a thera- 

 peutic, is procured by a cleaner and more costly process. 

 The livers, after being carefully washed, are subjected to 

 the action of steam or boiling water ; and the oil then 

 given forth is filtered through bags of different textile 

 materials, until it is perfectly clear and free from any 

 extraneous admixture. This oil is worth about 6s. per 

 gallon. 



An extensive cod-fishery exists along the Labrador 

 coast, and in the month of June a flotilla sails from the 

 Newfoundland bays St. John's, Conception, Trinity, 

 and Bonavista to take part in it. The vessels compris- 

 ing it range from the smack of 30 tons to the schooner 

 of 180 or 200, and the crews necessarily vary in numeri- 

 cal strength. As they frequently take with them their 

 wives and families, it is not uncommon for one of the 

 larger vessels to have as many as two hundred souls 

 on board. Nor are the women and children useless. 

 While the men catch the fish, and split, and wash, the 

 women head, and salt, and dry it. They do not all be- 

 long to one crew. A fishing crew, or gang, or company 

 the reader may choose which term he likes consists, at 

 the most, of nine or ten men, assisted by three or four 

 girls, or it may number only two or three men and one 

 girl. Consequently, several crews or gangs are included 

 in the complement of each vessel. A crew is under the 



