ccxxx Gadid®. PISHES. GADiDa:. 
present valued for salting, although at one time it 
was not prized. Dr. Storer records two species under 
the names Merlangus purpureus and M. carl)Oiuirius ; 
the latter he calls Coal-fish, and the former Pollock. 
On the coast of New York it is not common, but in 
Massachusel.ts Bay it is exceedingly numerous. It 
sometimes reaches the weight of seventeen pounds, 
but is seldom more than half that. Great numbers 
are salted and sold with Cod-fish and Haddock. 
COD-FISH (Gadus morrhuit, Linn ) — Plate 6, fig. 
29 — is found along shore from Greenland to Ilat- 
teras. Storer named it Morrhua americana — 'I’he 
A.merican Cod ; and DeKay follows with the same 
nomenclature. Mitchill, earlier, has it Gadus calla- 
rius — 'roRscii, Common Cod, or Eock Cod of New 
York. Storer says: “'I'his species is taken along 
the whole coast of Massachusetts throughout the 
year, leaving the vicinity of land in the month 
of February, and going into deeper water.” A re- 
liable source of information concerning the weight 
of the Cod, is the testimony of Mr. Jonathan John- 
son, Jr., of Nahant, Mass., whom the writer has 
personally known to be a valued judge in these 
matters. He states that the largest Cod-fish he 
has seen taken weighed eighty-eight pounds. Mr. 
Anthony Holbrook, of Boston, a noted fish-monger, 
re[)orted a specimen to Dr. Storer, wliich he says he 
saw taken in the spring of 1807, at New Ledge, 
sixty miles south-east of Portland, Me.; it weighed 
one hundred and seven pounds, and had barnacles 
upon its head the size of the thumb. A Mr. Holmes 
is recorded as stating that he has seen a Cod weigh- 
ing one hundred pounds, and more than five feet in 
length. 'I'he Cod Fishery is a very important em- 
ployment to the sea-faring people of Massachusetts. 
Prof. Baird quotes from an ancient work, which 
was printed in 1632, to show the abundance of 
Cod-fishes in the early times. One chapter of this 
work is as follows ; “Among Fishes, first, 1 will begin 
with the Codd, because it is the most commodius 
of all Fish, as may appeare by the use which is 
made of them in foraigne parts. The Codd-fishing 
is much used in America (whereof New England is 
part), insomuch as three hundred sayle of shipps, 
from divers ports, have used to be imployed yearly 
in that trade. I have seene in one Harboure, next 
Eichmond Island, fifteen sayle. of shipps at one time, 
that have taken in them driyed Codds for Spaine 
and the Straights (and it has bin found that the 
Saylers have made 15, 18, 20, 22 p. share for a com- 
mon man). * * 'I'he coast aboundeth with 
such multitudes of Codd that the inhabitants of New 
PJnglaiul doe dunge their grounds with Codd. * * 
Great store of trayne oyle is mayd of the livers of 
tlie Codd. In five or six hours [in Cape Cod Bay] 
we pestered our shipp so with Codd-fish that we 
threw numbers of them overboard again.” 
'I'he American Cod is very voracious, attacking and 
feeding on smaller fish, Crustacea and marine shell- 
fishes. During the winter months the Cod brought 
into Boston market and Lynn have their stomachs 
and intestines crowded with many kinds of small 
shell-fish and worms, which are obtained off the 
rocks in deep water. Boston market is supplied 
lai'gely with fresh Cod and Haddock from small ves- 
sels sent out from Nahant and Swampscott. 'I’hese 
vessels average about fifty tons burthen, and are 
built much after the model of the pilot-boats, being 
exceedingly staunch, and necessarily fast, as a. good 
deal of a spirit of competition exists in the matter 
of reaching the market soonest. During the winter 
months this fishing is most important. The writer 
has long been familiar with the men and their 
methods, and it is worth while to say that no more 
worthy and honest class of citizens are known in our 
country. We have accompanied a vessel during the 
coldest winter weather to “Green’s Harbor Ground,” 
as they term the locality, which is a favorite Cod 
and Haddock region at that season. 'I'his liarbor 
borders the Daniel Webster farm, Marshfield, -Mass., 
but the fishing grounds are in deep water, several 
miles off shore. 'I’he fishermen must have certain 
marks on shore, by which they get the range of their 
ground, and certain tall trees and buildings here 
point out, when taken in range, the looked-for posi- 
tion. A bout two o’clock in the morning the iiousehold 
of the fisherman’s family is astir, or the wooden fir- 
kin which contains his inevitable mince-pie, which 
serves for lunch, is prepared overnight. Our stal- 
wart friend had provided us with the outfit, consisting 
of heavy woolen stockings and enormous boots, that 
were well tarred to keep out the wet. A suit of oil- 
cloth throughout, and a large heavy pair of woolen 
mittens, and oil cloth “ sou’-wester '’ hat completed 
the attire. 'I'he fishing grounds were reached a.bout 
daylight, and the half-dozen men immediately com- 
menced to get ready each his boat, or ‘‘dory,” as 
it is called. Six of these were piled on deck like 
cups or saucers, one within the other. Each man 
and boat is dropped at intervals to pursue his fishing 
alone, leaving the cook on board to take care of the 
vessel, which is hove to, not anchored. 'I’his fish- 
ing is in such deep water — ten to twenty fathoms — 
that very heavy leads and stout lines are used. One 
very soon learns that this is no pastime. Usually 
two hooks are attached, and, after baiting with salted 
clam, the line is “reeled off” by the weight of the 
“sinker.’’ It strikes bottom with a thud. You 
haven’t even the luxury of a “bite,” or not one to 
feel or speak of. Ordinarily, when fishing is lively, 
you begin to haul up without reference to j^robabili- 
ties, and when the line is well nigh in board a new 
sensation, as that of resistance, and an increasing- 
sense of weight, assures you of the fact that one or 
two large Cod-fish or Haddock are attached to the 
line. 'I’he hauling in of the line and lead is nearly as 
fatiguing as the same process with Fishes attached. 
The enormous boots, made especially heavy by add- 
ing very thick soles, are seen to be of great service to 
those who fish from the “dorys,” as these boats ai-e 
very light, and the heavy boots serve to steady one 
as the sea tosses them. 'I’he Cod-fish is supposed to 
range from the Polar regions to Hatteras. Gadus 
qjac — 'The Greenland Cod-fish, Ojac or Ovak of 
the natives of Greeidand — is found only in the Polar 
regions. Baird records this as a doubtful species. 
