Drying fish on the cannon banksDigby had a few different places that were set up to dry fish, cannon banks being the largest. Cod, hake and Pollock were the most common species dried in Digby. During the three weeks of drying, fish would be placed in large press piles to squeeze out the leftover moisture then laid out to finish drying. Old Fish plant Freeport This picture dated 1900 shows a fish plant in Freeport with haddock on rods waiting to be smoked.