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Cure By Cod Fishing

Cape Cod parents, if they had a son who was either sickly or wild, sometimes sent the boy fishing on the Banks. A four months’ trip on a schooner after codfish either killed or cured him.

Serving as a common hand among a crew of eight was guaranteed to raise an appetite in any man not a corpse. Banks fishermen, the saying went, ate three squares a day and looked over their shoulder for a fourth. The favorite dish was codhead muddle.

Saturday night was the happiest hour. At sunset the trawls were coiled in the tubs. The decks were washed, and a single watch set for the next 24 hours. For those not on watch, Sunday was a day of rest. Unless, of course, the fish were biting.

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