Codfish Economy

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Around the year 1750, there lived in Boston, John Welch, a patriot and citizen of importance, and a captain in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. Captain Welch realized the importance of the codfish in the early economy of the Bay State.

With his own hands, he carved, from a solid block of wood, “a noble representation of that very noble fish.” The carved symbol was presented to the State, and for over two hundred fifty years it has hung in the legislative halls of both the old and the new State House (the old one is at the head of State Street, at Washington Street, Boston.)

Perhaps more than the distinguished flags which form so glorious a collection in the new State House, the carved-wood codfish, suspended for all to see and comment on, has been better known to the people. The “codfish economy” of Massachusetts began long before the carved codfish was thought of, and commenced at Cape Cod itself.

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Posted by capelinks - (website) on 03/01/06
Categories: Fishing, History
Keywords: fishing, history, cod
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Codfish Economy

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