Cod has been one of Canada’s most valuable resources for hundreds of years.The Vikings were the first ones to discover Newfoundland, and when they did, they found cod. For more than 500 years, cod have been a main resource in Canada. They would be fished and then preserved by either salting or smoking.
In Shore vs Off Shore FishingÂ
The two main types of fishing were in shore fishing and off shore fishing. In shore fishing happened within 25 kilometers of shore and it was usually smaller boats with hand lines that did this type.
This is an example of in shore fishing in the 1950s. The fishers are bringing in a cod trap.
Off shore fishing happened more than 25 kilometers off shore and it was usually bigger boats with draggers and trawlers that did this type.
This is an example of off shore fishing.
85% of fishers fished in shore but in shore fishing only made up 10% of the total catch. That means 15% of fishers fished off shore but made up 90% of the total catch.
Collapse of the Cod Fishery 