Consumable provisions are as follows: 300 to 350 tons of salt for pre- 

 paring the cod, 10 tons of coal for cooking, 120 casks of cider, 10 hogsheads 

 of wine, 3000 to 4000 pounds of potatoes, the usual quantities of pork, salt 

 beef, preserved meats, fish, vegetables, butter, cooking fat and oil, rum 

 and brandy, oil for lights, a supply of salt herring or horsemeat for the 

 Buccinus fishery. 



The final inspection having been made by the Inspector of Navigation, the 

 medical supplies checked by this functionary and a doctor, the vessel is ready 

 to sail. 



-J, vU 



During the period of the three-masted sailing vessels, the end of the 19th 

 and the beginning of the 20th centuries, the departure of the fleets of cod ves- 

 sels was an impressive spectacle, especially at Saint-Malo, where the tra- 

 dition of a grand departure together was preserved. 



On that day, a veritable army of fishermen, nearly 5000 strong, escort- 

 ed by their families, nearly always large, invaded the narrow streets of 

 Saint-Malo, women and children carrying the gear of the fisherman: mat- 

 tress, bedding, boots and personal belongings. This crowd overflowed the 

 vessels to the crew quarters where each man was installed in his bunk which 

 would be his home, sleeping chamber, and wardrobe for the whole fishing 

 season. 



One by one the vessels were towed by tugs to the outer harbor where they 

 anchored and the last preparations were made in a quiet and sober atmos- 

 phere. Then at the first good breeze, they shook out their sails and soon dis- 

 appeared behind Cape Friehel. 



The vessels practicing this fishery (now, as far as the French are con- 

 cerned, is a matter of history) loaded their salt either at a port of call at the 

 end of the season or at their port of outfitting. They sailed directly from 

 the latter port to the banks. 



The average time of crossing was 20 to 24 days. With favorable winds, 

 these vessels sometimes crossed in 12 days; on the other hand, unfavorable 

 westerly winds, often from the time of leaving the Channel, caused a period 

 of six weeks for arrival at the banks. 



83 



