For several centuries, the cod fishery has maintained a crucial role in the economy of a number of regions along our coastline, this fish offers both a food resource and commercial interest.

In Bordeaux, cod trading has been going on since the 15th century. In February, thousands of fishermen would leave for Newfoundland or Iceland for long campaigns. The pace of the work was arduous, life punishing, and disasters common. Cod boats would practice either “sedentary” fishing (cod caught close to the coast, and salted then dried on land) or “green cod” fishing (salted on board the boat).

In the 16th century, maximum development of this fishery produced significant growth in the local economy, and most notably to the Basque country. Over two centuries, Bordeaux was the first European port of call of the dried cod.

In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht deprived France of Acadia and Newfoundland, to the profit of the British. In 1783, the Treaty of Versailles gave back to France Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the right to fish in Newfoundland.

In the 19th century, the fishery continued but suffered from a lack of boats and of mariners. The “Terre-neuvas” would put in anchor at Port de la Lune, and the barges transfer the salted cod upstream from Pont de Pierre.

The beginning of the 20th century saw the economic and social importance of the cod fishery dwindle. Replacement of sailboats by trawlers did nothing to change this. After 1945, the arrival of a modern fleet of rear-end trawlers could not curb the gradual disappearance of the distant-water fishery, eroded by foreign competition, new laws governing seafaring, but also by the fluctuations of the stocks themselves.

• Home
• Products
• The Company
• History
• Contact