Food. 
Vaftly 
prolific. 
140 COMMON COD FISH. Clafs‘Iv, 
early as 1536; and we think we have fomewhere 
read, that their firft pretence for fifhing for. cod in 
thofe feas, was only to fupply an Engli/h convent 
with that article. 
The encreafe of fhipping that refort to thofe fer. 
tile banks, are now unfpeakable: our own country 
fill enjoys the greateft fhare; which ought to be ef 
teemed our chiefeft treafure, as it brings wealth to 
individuals, and ftrength to the ftate. 
All this immenfe fifhery is carried on by the Legh 
and line only * ; the bait is herring, a {mall fifh called 
a Capelin, a fell fith called Clams, and. bits, of fea 
fowl; and with thefe are caught fifh fufficient to find 
employ for near fifteen thoufand Briti/b feamen,.and 
to afford fubfiftence toa much more numerous bedy 
of people at home, who are engaged in the various 
manufactures which fo vat a fifhery demands, 
The food of the cod is either {mall fifth, worms, 
teftaceous, or cruftaceous animals, fuch as crabs, 
large whelks, &c. and their digeftion is fo pewerful, 
as to diffolve the greateft part of the fhells they 
fwallow. They are, very voracious, and catch at 
any {mall body they perceive moved by the water, 
even ftones and pebbles, which are often found in 
their ftomachs, 
Providence hath kindly ordained that this fith, fo 
ufeful to mankind, fhould be fo very prolific as to 
* We have been informed that they fifth in the depth of from 
fifteen to fixty fathoms, according to the inequality of the 
Bank, which is reprefented as a vait mountain under water above 
five hundred miles long, and near three hundred broad, and 
that feamen knew when they approach it by the great {well of 
oe fea, and the thick mifts that impend over it, 
\fupply 
