PRICES IN ROME, LONDON, AND AMERICA 287 



of many persons the law was repealed from necessity." Sixty 

 years later the Emperor Julian made a similar but smaller 

 attempt to control prices, but the corn speculators of Antioch 

 so entirely worsted him that he had to acknowledge defeat. 



By the courtesy of the Secretary of the Fishmongers' 

 Company I was furnished, with some average wholesale prices 

 for 1 913, the last year unaffected by the war. The consumer, 

 it must be remembered, is compelled, in general, to pay the 

 retailer one-third per lb. more to defray handling, rent, etc. 



The following sea fish were sold in London, per lb., as 

 follows : Cod for 4, Turbot for 9I, Mullet [Mugil capito) for 11, 

 Sole for 17 pence. In the Edict the price of fresh sea fish 

 is lumped at from 4| to 7 pence, so we have no datum for 

 comparison of individual prices. In the case of the Mugil 

 capito, however, we are enabled to contrast its price, i.e. 11 

 pence, with that in Egypt, c. 1200 B.C., i.e. .^^^ of a penny. 1 



A comparison with America in 1906 shows that the average 

 price of fresh sea fish was from 4^. to yd. per lb., or practically 

 the same as in Diocletian's time, while that of river fish- 

 fresh— per lb. was 6 to 7* as against 3f pence in the Edict.2 



Salt fish, per lb. in 301 a.d. cost 4^^., in U.S.A. 4^. to jld. 



Oysters (by the 100), is. lod., (in London) 4/- to 14/-. 



The figures show that prices of other commodities in the 

 Edict vary extremely, but for sea fish are not far apart. 



From the articles of raw material and manufactured wares, 

 which number in the Edict over eight hundred, and from the 

 wages, etc., I subjoin some items and prices on account of their 

 general interest. 3 



Wheat per bushel 



Beef per lb. 



Butter 



Eggs, per doz. . 



^ See p. 337, postea. 



* The lower price of river as compared with sea fish seems additional 

 evidence that the preference for the latter, well attested in the earher days 

 of Athens and of Rome, still continued. 



^ From p. 1 74 ff . of Abbott, who gives the prices in cents. 



