17^ COMMON COD FISH. Class IV. 



All this immenfe fifhery is carried on by the hook 

 and line only * •, the bait is herring, a fmali fifh 

 called a Capelm, a fhell fifh called Clams, and bits 

 of fea fowl ; and with thefe are caught fifh fufn- 

 cient to find employ for near fifteen thoufand Bri- 

 tt/h feamen, and to afford fubfiilence to a much 

 more numerous body of people at home, who are 

 engaged in the various manufadlures which fo vafl 

 a fifhery demands. 

 Food. The food of the cod is either fmall fifh, worms, 



teflaceous, or cruftaceous animals, fuch as crabs, 

 large whelks, &c. and their digeflion is fo power- 

 ful, as .to difTolve the greateft part of the fhells they 

 fwallow. They are very voracious, and catch at 

 any fmall body they perceive moved by the water, 

 even (tones and pebbles, which are often found in 

 their flomachs. 

 The Sounds. Fifhermen are well acquainted with the ufe of 

 the air-bladder or fotmd of the cod, and are very 

 dexterous in perforating this part of^ a live fifh with 

 a needle, in order to difengage the inclofed air; 

 for without this operation it could not be kept un- 

 der water in the well-boats, and brought frefh to 

 market. The founds of the cod faked is a delica- 



• We have been informed that they filh from the depth of 

 fifteen to fixty fathoms, according to the inequality of the 

 Ban^f which is reprefented as a vaft mountain, under water, 

 above five hundred miles long, and near three hundred broad, 

 and that feamen knew when they approach it by the great fwell 

 of the fea, and the thick miiis that impend over it. 



