52 
CONFERENCE ON SATURDAY, OCT. 27, 1883. 
E. BIRKBECK, Esq., M.P., in the Chair. 
RAILWAY RATES. 
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said he 
believed they would to-day be honoured with the presence 
of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. (Loud 
applause.) As he intimated yesterday, the question under 
discussion to-day would be that of Railway Rates. It wasa 
subject which in his opinion was easy and simple compared 
with what was discussed yesterday—was a very delicate and 
complex question, and he was sure it was one that not only 
the fishermen throughout the length and breadth of the 
United Kingdom were concerned in, but also the community 
at large. He had constantly heard it remarked by fisher- 
men that it was no use their sending fish to London and 
other large towns because of the excessive rates which 
they would have to pay for carriage. He had seen the 
sale-notes of fishermen at Billingsgate, and had been 
astounded to see how in many cases what ought to have 
gone to the fishermen in respect of the fair return for the 
fish sent, had been completely swallowed up by the rates 
which had been deducted for carriage. He believed there 
were gentlemen present who would state that not only had 
it occurred constantly that there had been no return what- 
ever, but that on the other hand there had been a balance 
