The cod fishery of the North Atlantic in this period was extraordinary in its scale.

Atlantic cod in the pre-industrial era existed in numbers that are almost incomprehensible from the perspective of modern, heavily depleted fish populations.

Contemporary accounts from explorers and fishermen describe codfish so abundant that they could be caught in baskets lowered over the side of the ship, or by standing in the water and grabbing them by hand.

The Grand Banks were among the richest fishing grounds in the world’s history, and French fishermen — Bretons, Normans, and Basques — were among the most active exploiters of these grounds.

Breton fishing voyages to the North Atlantic typically departed in spring and returned in late summer or early autumn, timing their presence in the fishing grounds to coincide with the best fishing conditions.