Everyone reading this thread should go out and buy and read the book "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World" by Mark Kurlansky. It covers the history of cod in the North Atlantic, from pre-Columbus to modern times. Very interesting reading. Check it out here: Cod

I visited Newfoundland in 1981, when the inshore, small boat, handline cod fishery was still going
strong, and first few trawlers were showing up. It was an amazing place. I can't imagine what it's like now with no cod there. The people there had NOTHING else... no logging, no mining, no industry, NOTHING... they had a saying, "fish or get out."

Just an interesting book.

-N.