COD-FISHING IN LABRADOR. 525 



them, and prepared their coffee and eatables. Breakfast dispatched, they 

 exchange their clean clothes for the fishing-apparel, and leap into their 

 boats, which had been washed the previous night, and again the flotilla 

 bounds to the fishing-ground. 



As there may be not less than 100 schooners or pickaxes in the har- 

 bour, 800 boats resort to the banks each day ; and, as each boat may pro- 

 cure 2000 cods per diem, when Saturday night comes about 600,000 

 fishes have been brought to the harbour. This having caused some 

 scarcity on the fishing-grounds, and Sunday being somewhat of an idle 

 day, the Captain collects the salt ashore, and sets sail for some other con- 

 venient harbour, which he expects to reach long before sunset. If the 

 weather be favourable, the men get a good deal of rest during the voy- 

 age, and on Monday things go on as before. 



I must not omit to tell you, reader, that, while proceeding from one 

 harbour to another, the vessel has passed near a rock, which is the breed- 

 ing place of myriads of Puffins. She has laid to for an hour or so, while 

 part of the crew have landed, and collected a store of eggs, excellent as a 

 substitute for cream, and not less so when hard boiled as food for the 

 fishing- grounds. I may as well inform you also, how these adventurous 

 fellows distinguish the fresh eggs from the others. They fill up some 

 large tubs with water, throw in a quantity of eggs, and allow them to 

 remain a minute or so, when those which come to the surface are tossed 

 overboard, and even those that manifest any upward tendency, share 

 the same treatment. All that remain at bottom, you may depend upon 

 it, good reader, are perfectly sound, and not less palatable than any that 

 you have ever eaten, or that your best guinea-fowl has just dropped in 

 your barn-yard. But let us return to the cod-fish. 



The fish already procured and salted, is taken ashore at the new har- 

 bour, by part of the crew, whom the captain has marked as the worst 

 hands at fishing. There, on the bare rocks, or on elevated scaffolds of 

 considerable extent, the salted cods are laid side by side to dry in the sun. 

 They are turned several times a-day, and in the intervals the men bear a 

 hand on board at clearing and stowing away the daily produce of the 

 fishing-banks. Towards evening they return to the drying grounds, and 

 put up the fish in piles resembling so many hay-stacks, disposing those 

 towards the top in such a manner that the rain cannot injure them, and 

 placing a heavy stone on the summit to prevent their being thrown down 



