Quick links

West India fish

Esp. Nfld, Hist.

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

the lowest grade of cod for export. Also West India and West Indies.

Quotations

1818

West-India fish: the refuse of the whole. These last are invariably sent for sale, to feed the Negroes of the Caribee Islands.

1832

First, the merchantable, which are those of the finest quality and colour; second, the Madeira, which are nearly equal to the first; third, West India fish. . . .

1883

[The fish] are "culled" or sorted into four different kinds called Merchantable (the best), Madeira, West India . . . and Dun, or broken fish, which will not keep and is intended for home use.

1936

Seven dollars for large fish, and five for your small, / Pick out your West Indies and wait till the fall.