THE FISH MAUKET AND THE FISH TRADE. 45 



stand exposed in all weathers, while the sales were being 

 effected. Mr. Seymour strongly urged the establishment of 

 a suitable fish market ; but for no less a period than seven 

 years he pressed his point in vain ; however, continued repre- 

 sentation at last began to show signs of f ruitf ulness, for Alder- 

 man Palmer and some others, took the matter up, with the 

 result that in the year 1871 Mr. Michael Chapman, being 

 mayor, the erection, at a cost of £3,000, of a market in Eorbes- 

 street, Woolloomooloo, became an accomplished fact. This 

 first effort to place the fish trade on a recognised footing was 

 a decided success, and so large was the increase in the amount 

 of business transacted, that the building soon proved too small 

 for its purpose. The City Council therefore designed and 

 carried out additions at a further cost of £1^,000. A still 

 further increase in the fish traffic necessitated a second 

 extension to the market, at a cost of £2,200. This addition 

 was completed during the mayoralty of Mr. Alderman John 

 Harris, who formally opened the enlarged building, which 

 covers an area of over 17,000 square feet, on the 24th January, 

 1889. 



Erom the time of the establishment of the fish market to 

 the close of the year 1891, the amount realised from the sales 

 of fish within it was £470,258 16s. 8d. The income derived 

 during the same period, in the shape of commission on sales, 

 rent of stalls, cleansing troughs, &c., including the cost of 

 the building, was £20,623 Os. Id., the result being a credit 

 balance to the Council of £10,036 12s. 2d. 



The market is open for the sale of fish for six days in each 

 week throughout the year. The sales are effected by public 

 auction, three staff officers holding auctioneers' licenses, 

 performing that duty. The sales commence at 5 o'clock in 

 the morning, and are continued until half -past 7 or 8 o'clock. 

 The fish are parcelled in lots somewhat as follows : — 

 Schnapper, teraglin, and nannaguy, in half-dozens, whiting, 

 in two dozens, very large jew-fish singly, small jew-fish in 

 half-dozens, sea-mullet in single dozens, live prawns in half- 

 pecks, and all other fish in half-bushels. Troughs for 

 scaling and cleaning are fixed along the whole length, and 

 on each side of the building, and into them clean salt water 

 is regularly pumped from the strong tide- way of the harbour 

 off Mrs. Macquarie's Chair. The market is also furnished 

 with a small refrigerating chamber which has done good 

 service, but in connection with a still further extension of 



