Explore the Committee on History of the Emblem of the Codfish about the History of this artwork, Sacred Cod.
On January 2, 1895‍—‌the House's last day of business before relocating to a new chamber in the same building— the question of taking with it the "representation of a codfish," which for more than a hundred years had never missed a "roll call," was brought up for consideration. It was, however, deemed wise to investigate the significance of the emblem before its removal ...
Accordingly, after "nearly two months of painstaking research and investigation" the three-member Committee on History of the Emblem of the Codfish submitted its report, and after debating "at length" the House ordered "immediate removal of the ancient 'representation of a codfish' from its present position in the chamber recently vacated by the House, and to cause it to be suspended ... in this chamber ..." [C]: 4 A committee of fifteen was escorted by the Sergeant-at-Arms to the old House chamber, where the Sacred Cod was lowered by the assistant doorkeeper and wrapped in an American flag, then placed on a bier and borne by House messengers to the new House chamber, where the assembled Representatives rose in applause.[C]: 7  
After repainting by Walter M. Brackett, it was hung where it remains today:
"between the two sets of central columns, and under the names 'Motley,' and 'Parkman'," [C]: 20 
above the chamber's clock.The Cod has faced north (that is, leftward as seen from the Speaker's rostrum) since its installation in the House chamber in 1895, though after being repainted in 1965 it was, at least temporarily, rehung the other way.
remains Cod Motley Walter M. Brackett left Parkman