Hanging over this chamber is the "Sacred Cod", which was given to the House of Representatives in 1784 by a Boston merchant.

The Sacred Cod symbolizes the importance of the fishing industry to the early Massachusetts economy.

In 1933 the Sacred Cod was briefly "Cod-napped" by editors of the Harvard Lampoon, prompting police to drag the Charles River and search an airplane landing in New Jersey.

In the early hours of April 29, after repairs to three damaged fins, the Sacred Cod was re-hung in the House chamber, "six inches higher [than] the reach of any individual.

University of Massachusetts Using a stepladder, on November 14, 1968 students at the new Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts took the Sacred Cod in protest of perceived legislative indifference to their school.

Editors of the Harvard Lampoon steal the Sacred Cod of Massachusetts from the State House (it is returned two days later).

Within the House's debating chamber hangs the Sacred Cod of Massachusetts.

Since 1784, the current Sacred Cod has been present at nearly every House session, and moved to its current location when the House began convening in the State House in 1798.

The fish was so important to the history and development of Massachusetts, the state's House of Representatives hung a wood carving of a codfish, known as the Sacred Cod of Massachusetts, in its chambers.

In 1898, he was tasked with repainting the Sacred Cod of Massachusetts.