THE COD FISHERY 277 



and under the names " Motley " and "Parkman." There 

 it remains to-day, "a memorial of the Pilgrim, his priva- 

 tions and simplicity; an emblem significant of the hardi- 

 ness, courage, and faith of those who dare and defy the seas, 

 and daily telling of the great and surpassing glories of 

 Massachusetts and her sons." 



It would be difficult to find an industry of New Eng- 

 land that surpasses in the remoteness of its origin, in the 

 continuance of its existence, and in the hardy manhood 

 developed in its followers, the industry of the fisheries. 

 Further, no other industry of the country ante-dates this 

 one of New England, and it is equally probable that no 

 other industry of historic importance in the land finds so 

 complete an epitome of life-history in a small section of 

 the country as do the fisheries of the United States find in 

 the story of the fishery industries of New England. 



Of all the fish of the sea none is dearer to the heart 

 of the New Englander than the codfish. History has 

 claimed it for her own, and thrown a halo about its name. 

 For years the cod held supreme sway over all others of its 

 kind. This was due to no sentiment arising from historic 

 associations. The life of the colonist was staked upon the 

 economic importance of the codfish. The Revolution wit- 

 nessed a struggle in diplomacy in which the codfish was 

 a central figure. Our war for independence upon the sea 

 was won by cod fishermen from the capes and banks. The 

 cod tells "of commerce, diplomacy, war; of victories won 

 in all three fields. " While the cod occupies so completely 

 the foremost place in our fisheries until the second war 

 with Great Britain, there arises in the more recent history, 

 consideration for other fish. 



The mackerel fishery began to assume a place of impor- 

 tance before the waning glories of the whale fishery had 

 sunk into obscurity. The oyster fishery is a leader to-day 

 in economic importance, even though it is doomed never to 



