MISCELLANEOUS. 1155 



admit that "the cod-fishery could not exist." This fishery, says 

 M. Senac, ' 'is a productive industry; and it furnishes more than a fifth 

 part of the whole number of our seamen, and by far the best portion of 

 them. There is no cheaper, better, or more useful school for the forma- 

 tion of seamen for the navy, and none is more capable of extension and 

 development. The doubling of the consumption and exportation of the 

 produce of the fisheries would furnish our fleets with twelve thousand 

 more seamen" 



We have seen that when, in 1778, France embarked in our revolu- 

 tionary struggle, her fishermen, absent at Newfoundland, were recalled 

 to enter her ships-of-war. The same reliance is placed upon them 

 now. War was apprehended in 1841, and M. Thiers followed the 

 example of the statesmen referred to; and M. Rodet affirmed that, 

 ''without the resources which were found in the sailors engaged in the 

 fisheries, the expedition to Algiers could not have taken place" 



These reasons are not only sufficient to justify, but to demand, 

 national encouragement. But it may be urged, in addition, that the 

 open or deep-sea cod-fishery differs from almost every other employ- 

 ment; that in war it is nearly or quite destroyed; that in peace it 

 cannot be pursued for more than four or five months in a year; that 

 often skill and industry are insufficient to insure good fares ; and that, 

 when success attends severe toil and exposure, the fishermen barely 

 subsist. The effects of a " bad catch " are, indeed, sad and calamitous. 

 The disasters of 1847 afford a recent and a forcible illustration. In 

 that year the French cod-fishery proved a failure. The quantity of 

 fish caught was scarcely a sixth part of that of former seasons; and the 

 fishermen, discouraged, abandoned the business as early as the middle 

 of August. The labor of the summer and the expenses of repairs and 

 of outfits lost, the actual want of food and clothing until another year 

 came round was alone prevented by the bounty allowed by the gov- 

 ernment. 



The manner of fishing is now the only topic that need claim atten- 

 tion. It is to be observed that the principal fishing-grounds are three, 

 and that on each there is a difference in the mode of operations and in 

 the size of the vessels. First, the fishery on the coasts of Newfound- 

 land, which has always been considered the most important, as being 

 more certain and employing the greatest number of men. The 

 vessels are of all sizes from thirty to two hundred, and even three 

 hundred tons. The latter size is, however, rare. When the vessel 

 arrives on the coast, which is generally early in June, she is dis- 

 mantled. Her boats, with two men and a boy in each, are sent out 

 every morning, when the weather will permit, to fish until night. On 

 the return in the evening, the fish taken are split, salted, and put in 

 "benches" or piles; remaining in piles a few days, they are "washed 

 out " and dried until they are fit to ship. These processes are repeated 

 from day to day until the fare is completed, or the season has passed 



atlantic countries, when said fish are exported from the ports of France without having 

 been there landed. 



Twelve francs per metric quintal of drv codfish, the produce of the French fishery, 

 shipped for Sardinia and Algeria, either direct from the fishing settlements or from the 

 ports of France. 



Twenty francs per metric quintal of the hard roe of codfish, the produce of the 

 French fishery, brought into France by their fishing- vessels. 



Note. One kilogramme is equal to 2 Ibs. 3Joz.; 220$ Ibs. equal tol quintal mctrique 

 (aay metric quintal). 



