< PLATE CVI. 
usually begin spawning about January, in Iceland about February, and 
on the banks of Newfoundland not till April. The greatest fishery for 
the Cod in Europe is therefore from the month of February to the 
end of March, or middle of April, but in America in May and June. 
They disappear after this time, and again return to their former 
haunts in September, at which time, however, the severity of the 
northeni winters begin to take place, and when the waters become 
frozen the fishery is altogether precarious. The Cod-fish is taken 
by the hook and line, baited with pieces of fish, aquatic birds, 
clamps, or other food upon which this fish in common subsists. 
The mode of preparation adopted by different companies and na- 
tions for the curing the Cod-fish is various: in the north they distin- 
guish different kinds by the name of Stock-fish, Laberdan, KlipP‘ 
fesh, &c. the principal difference of which consists in preparing the 
flesh with a greater or less portion of salt, and In either drying it in 
the air, or preserving It moist, packed up in barrels. The sounds are 
considered delicate, and it need be scarcely added that an isinglass 
is prepared from this part of the fish. An oil is likewise extracted 
from the liver-pf the Cod by the Norwegians and Icelanders, which 
for many useful purposes is preferable to that of the whale. 
It is raiely that the Cod-fish attains to a large size in the Britisl> 
.seas. Mr. Pennant speaks of one which measured five feet in length, 
and five In the girth round the shoulders ; the weight seventy-eight 
pounds : this was taken on the coast of Scarborough, in Yorkshire. 
T'hose of twenty or thirty pounds weight are esteemed of good size 
in England ; but they occur of far greater magnitude on the coast oi 
Newfoundland. 
i 
