In addition to its great value as a food fish, the cod, like the sturgeon, yields isinglass (a pure fish gelatine) from its swimming bladder, and oil from its liver. Cod-liver oil is largely used as a remedy for scrofulous complaints—probably owing to its content of vitamins. It is also used effectively in cases of pulmonary consumption. Cod is fished along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and on the Banks. The Banks stretch for about 300 miles in a south-east direction from the coast of Newfoundland towards the middle of the North Atlantic. They are swept by the cold Labrador current. A branch of the Gulf Stream passes over the southern portion of the Banks. These currents bring enormous quantities of plankton and small fish, which provide excellent food for the many varieties of fish and small, invertebrate, marine animals that inhabit the Banks. These, in their turn, provide abundant food for the cod. The cod, together with other demersal fish, including haddock, hake and pollack, is caught with baited hooks and lines. This fishery has continued with unbroken prosperity for nearly four centuries. In addition to the Newfoundland boats, a large number of American boats set out for the Banks from Gloucester (Mass.). Most of the boats are sailing boats of about 35 tons capacity, and of sturdy construction. Each boat carries eight dories—small row-boats about 15 ft. long—amidships. The crew consists of a captain and cook, and sixteen men—two for each dory. The “Banks” stretch for about 300 miles, by 200 miles wide, in a south-easterly direction, towards the centre of the North Atlantic. The depths in which the fishing is carried on range from 20 to 120 fathoms off the coast of Newfoundland, from 15 to 90 fathoms on the Banks, and from 100 to 135 fathoms at the edge of the Banks. The vessel starts out for the fishing grounds with about 400 hogsheads of salt, and from 15,000 to 25,000 lbs. of bait. The bait is generally frozen squid and herring. Capelan is also used as bait, but has to be obtained at Miquelon, the last port of call before putting out to the Banks. The bait must be well iced, as the cod will not bite well if the bait be tainted. During the second trip, squid is used as bait and is caught on the fishing grounds. As the boat approaches the fishing grounds, the dories are made ready. Each dory carries four tubs of baited lines. A tub contains nine lines, each 50 fathoms long. When fishing, these lines are all strung together, so that each dory will run a string 1,800 fathoms long—about two miles. Each line carries about 90 hooks—that is, 3,200 hooks to each dory. A vessel with eight dories will thus set about 16 miles of line, carrying about 25,000 hooks. The hooks are attached to the lines by means of shorter lines called “gangings”—in Scotland they are known as “snoods”—about 2 ft. long. The complete line, as set by a dory, is called a “trawl.”