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Emmkay's Reviews > Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World
Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World
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Many years ago when I was in university, I went through a phase of being intensely interested in cod. I wrote a paper about the Newfoundland codfish moratorium in one class, and I and another student jauntily declared ourselves 'pro-cod' in the tutorial for another class (whatever that meant - it was fun to this geeky then-teen, and I think we developed some kind of a pro-cod chant). My interest subsided after that, but I think back on it fondly.
And teenage me was right, the history and politics of cod are really interesting, though far from jaunty. I enjoyed learning more in this microhistory, even if it's from the 90s and no longer current. Well, it is kind of current, because the Atlantic cod stocks still aren't back, decades later. I was interested to learn about the role played by the trade in salt cod in the triangular trade, contributing to the slave-based economy, as well as the hubris and missteps that have led to the collapse of fisheries once viewed as based on inexhaustible supplies.
And teenage me was right, the history and politics of cod are really interesting, though far from jaunty. I enjoyed learning more in this microhistory, even if it's from the 90s and no longer current. Well, it is kind of current, because the Atlantic cod stocks still aren't back, decades later. I was interested to learn about the role played by the trade in salt cod in the triangular trade, contributing to the slave-based economy, as well as the hubris and missteps that have led to the collapse of fisheries once viewed as based on inexhaustible supplies.
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Reading Progress
April 30, 2013
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 30, 2013
– Shelved
October 7, 2021
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Started Reading
October 25, 2021
– Shelved as:
2021-reads
October 25, 2021
– Shelved as:
history
October 25, 2021
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
October 25, 2021
–
Finished Reading
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Caroline
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Oct 25, 2021 01:46PM
Aw, I like to think of you as a cod-geeky student :O)
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Ha - bless you for that, Caroline!
I remember back in the 90s seeing a news piece on the cod fisheries. A Canadian gentleman at a news conference or something stood up, ashen faced, and said, "Let's face it gentlemen--we've caught them all." Turbot, same problem.Salt cod used to be a staple here in Spain, it is now a luxury product. Back in the 80s I served stewed salt cod about once a week. It's off our home menu now. What they sell as "fresh cod" is not cod as I know it, neither the same taste nor texture. I wonder what subspecies it is.
Back in the 90s, Spanish and Portuguese fishers were regarded as the problem by many Canadian fishers, but dwindling stocks were really an everyone problem. I’ve read that much fish sold these days is not what it’s labelled as - the old names are maintained but it’s really whatever mislabelled and less desirable catch they can find.
Yes, it's like "swordfish" here in S. Spain, what they are often selling is dog shark. I can tell by the smell, as well as the texture, but when raw it smells of ammonia.
I loved this book which I read when it came out, and it took me down the road of pursuing micro histories. A very interesting and obscure road.
Canadian wrote: "I loved this book which I read when it came out, and it took me down the road of pursuing micro histories. A very interesting and obscure road."I'd enjoy reading more in this vein. It may be micro history, but it gets to the macro issues - very neat.
