DEMAND AND SUPPLY. 97 



dred of six score, or at a penny a piece, a price at 

 which they said they could afford to supply the 

 London market to any extent, provided they were 

 sure of a regular sale. On the 15th of June, 1812, 

 upwards of 17,000 mackerel were sent to Spital- 

 fields, and sold at the original cost of a penny s, 

 piece, to which place women were employed to 

 carry them from Billingsgate until eleven at night. 

 They were purchased with great avidity, and vast 

 numbers continued to pour into Billingsgate. They 

 were sent to other parts of the town, and sold to 

 the poor at the same rate ; and it is stated that the 

 supply increased to so great a degree, that 500,000 

 mackerel arrived and were sold in one day. The 

 whole cost of this experiment was 55 1 Os., ex- 

 pended chiefly in the carriage from Billingsgate. 

 In like manner it is intimated that Herrings might 

 be supplied in any quantity at one halfpenny a piece, 

 and Cod, Haddocks, Whitings, Flounders, &c. pro- 

 portionably cheap, provided a steady demand were 

 created, which it is presumed might be, by the 

 establishment of regular markets. Within these 

 few weeks (on Feb. 2d, 1842) there appeared in 

 the " Manchester Guardian" a notice, which we pre- 

 sume to be correct, and which completely corrobo- 

 rates the foregoing account. " The Flamborough 

 Head and Filey Bay Fishing Company have opened, 

 in Manchester, a shop for the sale of fish caught off 

 the Yorkshire coast, at such a price as makes it an 

 article in great demand among our poorer classes. 

 We are told that the fish is caught in +^e afternoon 



