INTRODUCTOEY. 19 



We may notice one more point in connection with 

 the supply of fish. In former years, wlien railways 

 were in their infancy, most of the fish sold at Billing-s- 

 gate was brought there by water carriage. It was the 

 one great market, and London was the first place to 

 have her wants supplied. At that time the salesmen 

 forwarded to the country such fish as could be spared 

 and was likely to reach its destination in proper order. 

 Even after railways had been considerably extended, 

 they were used more for distributing the fish to the 

 country than for bringing it to London ; for, except- 

 ing Yarmouth, the North Sea stations had not then 

 attained very much importance, and both trawlers and 

 liners mostly hailed from the Thames. As the coast 

 lines of railway became completed, their convenience 

 for sending the fish to London was soon recognized, 

 and their fish traffic rapidly increased ; for London was 

 still the great wholesale market, and the salesmen sup- 

 plied the country fishmongers according to the orders 

 received by post. But as time went on, and the elec- 

 tric telegraph became generally established throughout 

 the country, a great change took place in the mode of 

 doing business. The agents at the different fishing 

 stations received notices by " wire " from their prin- 

 cipals in London of the country orders to be executed, 

 and the fish was forwarded accordingly direct from the 

 place where it was landed, thus saving both time and 

 expense. This is the present practice, so far as it can 

 be carried out ; but there are many parts of England 

 which can still be most conveniently supplied from 

 Billingsgate. There is an immense business, however, 

 done by " wire," and telegraph charges have become 

 an important item in the salesman's accounts. It will, 

 perhaps, be difficult to find stronger proof of the great 



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