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Lifelines: Canada's East Coast Fisheries

The Cod Rush
The European Fishermen, 1497-1763
 
The Fishing Community
The Cod Rush: The European Fishermen, 1497-1763




Typical Menus for the Trip to Newfoundland

CREW

 

OFFICERS

Morning Morning
biscuit and butter

biscuit and butter

Days when meat was allowed (Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays) Days when meat was allowed (Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays)
Ration: six ounces of bacon with biscuit
 
Menu: biscuit and soup made with meat
Menu: soup with salt beef and/or bacon, and bread or biscuit
Evening Evening
pea soup

peas with bacon

Meatless days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays) Meatless days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays)
Lunch Lunch
pea soup
cod with fricasseed peas
Dinner Dinner
pea soup

cod with fricasseed peas

Beverages Beverages
Depending on the origin of the crew: cider, beer or wine, all watered down
Depending on the origin of the crew: as much beer or wine as they wanted



At the Fishing Station

CREW

 

OFFICERS

Ration  
biscuit and 2 pounds of butter a week

 
Morning Morning
biscuit and butter

biscuit and butter

Days when meat was allowed (Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays) Days when meat was allowed (Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays)
small cod and pilot fish
 
dried vegetables, fish soup and biscuit

cod soup or fricasseed fish with white sauce or oil

Meatless days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays) Meatless days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays)
small cod or pilot fish
cod soup or fricasseed fish with white sauce or oil
dried vegetables, fish soup with butter, biscuit

 
Sundays only Occasionally
bacon

meat

Dried vegetables  
Depending on the origin of the crew: beans, peas, potatoes or groats

 
Beverages Beverages
Depending on the origin of the crew: cider, beer or wine, all watered down
as much beer or wine as they wanted
spruce beer
 
eau-de-vie as a reward for the fisherman who worked the hardest
 



Ration for the Return Trip on Another Ship

CREW

 

OFFICERS

50 pounds of biscuit for every 3 men
menu prepared for the captain's table
4 pounds of butter per person
 
4 pounds of bacon per person

 
Beverages  
cider, weak beer or spruce beer
 

Design


THE SHIPOWNER | THE CAPTAIN AND THE PILOT
THE SURGEON AND THE CHAPLAIN | THE FISHERMEN


 

 
Menu - Lifelines Menu - The Cod Rush

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