22 



result in doubling the supply in twelve months. The 

 answer to that question would make a material difference 

 in the selection of a probable new market. He should not 

 like to say that Billingsgate was going to be done away 

 with in favour of a new market, nor did he think it would 

 be a sensible thing to say, especially after the remarks of 

 Mr. Sayer, a gentleman of very large business enterprise 

 in Billingsgate, but he did think the tendency of that 

 gentleman's remarks was rather different from what he 

 intended. It seemed extraordinary that these Billingsgate 

 gentlemen themselves did not enter into some understand- 

 ing with each other to break through the extraordinary 

 trammels which seemed to restrict their business, and to 

 decide that they would compete with other markets which 

 were springing up throughout England and the Continent, 

 by determining that either they would have better accom- 

 modation at Billingsgate, or establish a new market. 

 Mr. Walpole had inferentially indicated that at least it was 

 possible that a new market might be constructed, and had 

 indicated some points which were necessary to a fish market, 

 but it seemed to him that those qualifications should be 

 a little extended. The first and main thing was the 

 geographical position, which should be as nearly as pos- 

 sible central, not, perhaps, in the centre of habitations, 

 but in the centre of communication ; then, if possible, 

 there should be railway communication running through 

 the floor of the market, there should be plenty of room for 

 all the requirements of the market, room for buyers and 

 sellers, wholesale, semi-wholesale, and retail, room for the 

 public in as large numbers as thought proper to come ; 

 there should also be room for a promenade, shops, curing 

 establishments, ice-house, and other things connected with 

 the market. Then came the question where the locality 



