Drying Codfish in the Sun-Gloucester, Mass.

Creator

Keystone View Company

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Creation Date

1905

Description

In this image, salt cod can be seen drying on large racks in the Massachusetts sun. Salt cod is traditionally manufactured by salting cod and then hanging or lying the fish on scaffolds to be dried by the wind and the sun. Even though the practice of using salt to preserve foods is an ancient technique, many consider the discovery of cod in 1497 as a breakthrough in the fish salting industry, since cod had qualities that made it the most ideal fish for the salting process. Salting became an even more viable food preservation option during the triangular trade between the Old and New Worlds, especially when cheap salt could be imported from Southern Europe. Gloucester possessed a thriving fishing industry for much of its existence, with industries such as cod salting being common throughout the city.

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