104 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



brought alongside an old hulk specially kept for the 

 purpose and moored near the market-place. Tackles 

 having been hooked to the handles of the chest, it was 

 hoisted sufficiently clear of the dock to allow the box to 

 drain, and the cover having been removed, a man stood 

 in the middle of the chest and, seizing the fish by the 

 head and tail, took them out and threw them on to the 

 hulk's deck. It was a lively and exciting performance, 

 for a big live fish of any sort is no easy thing to handle 

 when taken from the water. As soon as the floundering 

 cod thudded and flapped on the deck of the hulk it was 

 annexed by the experienced executioner, whose sole 

 weapon was a short club, and whose only power was an 

 iron grip and stout muscle. He seized the cod just 

 behind the head, held the fish firmly to the deck, and in 

 a second or two killed it with one or two heavy blows 

 on the nose. A big heap of fish formed rapidly, and 

 this was as quickly taken ashore and placed in the 

 waiting railway-trucks for conveyance to Billingsgate. 

 The fish were not put in boxes, but straight into the 

 truck, which would hold about two hundred and fifty 

 good-sized fish and a much larger number of smaller cod. 

 By the adoption of this system of catching, keeping, and 

 killing the cod when wanted, it was found possible to 

 get the fish to Billingsgate in perfectly fresh condition, 

 and put the cod on the market in a state which 

 invariably enabled the dealers to get good prices for 

 their commodity. 



One of the most important items in the expenses of 

 a cod-smack was the bait ; in fact, so considerable was it 

 that it exceeded the wear and tear of sails and rigging. 

 In long lining by codmen only one sort of bait was used, 



