420 ON THE PRICE OF FISH. 



especially during the time that war was going on between 

 France and England. In the last year again the price is 

 greatly heightened, and probably from the same cause. When 

 ling is described as old, it generally stands at a higher price 

 than when it is entered as new. It is probable that the green 

 fish of the accounts are to be identified with new ling. I con- 

 clude that the store was more certain to keep sound if it had 

 been thoroughly dried. On the whole, the price of great ling 

 is almost five times higher than that of haberdens. 



The accounts also give entries of small or middle ling. 

 These are found pretty regularly up to 1644, after which date 

 only three entries have been discovered. It is perhaps the 

 case that not only was the use of salt fish lessened as time 

 went on, and more regular supplies of other provisions were 

 forthcoming, but that the market distinction between small 

 and large was not maintained. Speaking generally, the three 

 values of salt cod stand in relation to each other in the pro- 

 portion of one, five, and three. The island fish of 1587 and 

 1588 at 90^. and i^cxr. are plainly the same as middle ling, 

 while the salt cod of 1583, 1584, 1596, 1602 and 1633, and 

 the salt fish of 1585, 1588 and 1598, are the same as haberden; 

 the average price being 66s. lid. In one year, 1655, I find 

 an entry of Nassy cod, a designation which I have not found 

 before. The rate by the hundred is 90^. Green fish are 

 found occasionally, and are a little dearer than middle ling. 

 Salt fish by weight is found at id. a pound in 1685 and 1699, 

 for the Cuckfield stone is a clove or nail. 



There are also, in the earlier period especially, a few pur- 

 chases of salt fish singly. Eleven entries give an average of 

 is. $\d. The price is probably due to occasional purchases. 

 Now and then purchases of ' cod ' are recorded, at prices 

 which seem to suggest that the fish was fresh. Generally they 

 cost is. 6d. each, but they are found as high as 2^., and even 

 6s. and 6s. 8d. The high-priced articles are bought, with 

 other fish, for Lord Spencer's table. 



HERRINGS. This kind of fish, once so common an article 



