The difference between "cod" and "scrod" is the same as the difference between "Sam" and "boy". Cod is the name for a group of three fish species found in cold ocean waters. Scrod is a general term describing young cod or haddock species. In fact, "scrod" is a culinary-influenced term, with its exact definition being:

"A young cod or haddock, especially one split and boned for cooking as the catch of the day." (see citation, below)

Geesh, how would you like your identity to be tied up in whether you were the "split" or "boned" catch of the day? In fact, both cod and scrod described fish that have been overexploited. Strict regulations are in place in many world fisheries to protect cod species. Still, fish-friendly governments and outlaw fishers continue to push cod species towards extinction.

If you want to avoid eating seafood that results from or contributes to the strip-mining of our oceans, check out the Eat Smart seafood list at:

http://www.oceansalive.org/eat .cfm?subnav=bestandworst

Nutshell: there is a big difference between "cod" and "scrod", but both terms may just become anachronisms if the world can't check its appetite for irresponsibly harvested fish.

scrod. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.co m/browse/scrod (accessed: April 02, 2007).

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