54 
sary ability to deal with the subject in the way in which it 
should be dealt with. Having had large experience of the 
way in which the fishing trade had been developed, he 
might say that he considered they owed their present 
position to the railway companies for having afforded them 
the means of distributing the fish throughout the country. 
That being so, it was of the most vital importance that the 
companies should do all they could to meet the growing 
necessities of the case by giving additional accommodation. 
When large quantities of fish could not be sent to different 
towns in which it might be consumed, in consequence of 
the high railway charges, it was apparent that it became 
a most serious question, as it affected the food of the 
masses. When the question of the destruction of imma- 
ture fish was before the Conference, one gentleman stated 
that boxes of fish containing from five to six stone were 
sold at the ports at which they were delivered for 6d. and 
Is, and as a natural consequence people were inquiring 
why they could not get fish at a price less than was now 
charged for it. At present large quantities of fish were 
consumed at the ports at which it was landed, and some 
was sold for manure ; but if railway accommodation was 
easy, it might be sent to London to form the food of the 
poorer classes. Railway companies might think that they 
had the case in their own hands, and could charge what 
rates they liked. They might say that fish was a perishable 
commodity, and that as there was nobody to press upon 
them the reduction of the rates, they could keep up the 
monopoly. If that was their argument, all he could say 
was that it was not by keeping up excessive rates that 
people brought the greatest benefit to themselves. There 
could be no greater instance of that than the penny postage, 
which had demonstrated the fact that popular rates in- 
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