Cod-Fishing the Cradle of an Irrepressible Conflict. 265 
lectest variety—the dun-fish, enabled European grandees of 
the straitest sect in both church and state—to keep the most 
rigorous fasts without much mortification of the flesh.* 
It is safe to say that nonb of these varieties of cod tasted so 
sweet to hunger-bidden fasters as the profits from them tasted 
to the Yankees when they had secured free course through 
southern markets. Their ciphering was of this sort: A vessel 
of 100 tons with twenty men fishing on the banks and voyaging 
to Portugal, Spain or Italy — perhaps selling half her cargo in 
the West Indies — will expend one thousand pounds. At the 
year’s end her receipts may be expected to show a gain of 200 
per cent. 
It is no wonder that as early as 1709 the fishing navy was 
registered as already amounting to 30,000 tons, and that in 
1741 the export trade equaled that of England itself and had 
risen to £100,000. 
The cod-fishing was the cradle of an irrepressible conflict 
between the French and English colonists. In that industry 
they met each other first and oftenest, as well as in a life and 
death struggle. In all the history of our colonies we read of 
no such prodigal outlays and that in such arduous enterprises 
as those for dispossessing French fishermen. The conquest of 
Canada — or New France — began on its sea coast in 1713, when 
Acadia, where the Bretons had built their huts sixteen years 
before the May Flower sailed, was surrendered. It came to a 
final end there with the fail of Louisburg, the last maritime 
French stronghold in 1745, a decade before the seven years 
struggle for Quebec began. Judging by the order in which the 
Canadian provinces were conquered, fisheries were “ the imme¬ 
diate jewel of the Yankee’s soul.” It was desirable in his view 
to repel the Indians from the inland frontiers where they were 
perpetually kidnapping and scalping, but the first and supreme 
duty was to extirpate the French who crippled the taking and 
the curing of cod. 
Fisheries, in which cod has been easily the supreme element, 
have always been the chief nursery of the American marine 
strength, alike in war and in peace. 
* Hildreth, I., 473-476. 
