4 22 ON THE PRICE OF FISH. 



between 1585 and 1690 are found in my accounts. The 

 price varies greatly, from u. %d. in the first year to 25^. in 

 1690. But I suspect that the lower-priced articles are salt, 

 and that four of the entries should therefore be referred to a 

 second series, which I shall presently refer to. The high- 

 priced fish of 1594, 24 j., is purchased in London for the Star 

 Chamber feast. That of 1599 at 13^. ^d. is bought by Lord 

 Spencer, as are also one at I2J. and two at qs. 6d. in 1601, 

 and four others in 1602, at 205., i$s. 4^., 13^. and 13^. 

 respectively. In 1621 the same nobleman buys at i2s. In 

 1635 King's College, Cambridge, entertains the Prince 

 Palatine and gives 13^. for a fish. In 1640 Winchester 

 College buys four fish at $s. \\d. each, and in 1641 two are 

 bought at Rochester at 135. yd. Lastly, in 1690 New College 

 in Oxford buys three fish at 25^., Ss. and los. It will be 

 evident therefore that fresh salmon was very dear in the 

 seventeenth century. The lowest prices are at Winchester, but 

 salmon swarmed in the Itchin. In 1691, Houghton gives 

 fresh salmon at Berwick at 2J., and fresh cod at 6d. 



There are seventeen or nineteen years in which salt salmon 

 occur, if we include those low-priced entries which are not 

 specially designated as salt, or omit them. On the former 

 number the price varies from as. 6d. to 9^., or an average 

 of 4s. 4f\d. nearly. But the average of fresh salmon is 

 13^. j^d. The fresh fish is therefore more than three times 

 as dear as the salt. I have only found two entries of salmon 

 by the barrel, in 1586 and 1587, at 52^. and 8oj., both 

 purchased by Lord North. Salmon at Gawthorp, always 

 salt, is generally dear. 



I have also found nine entries of salt sturgeon by the keg, 

 the first in 1594, the last in 1698. The average is a little less 

 than 2oj. On two occasions, on the feast to the Prince 

 Palatine, sturgeon is bought by the 'joule.' I have not found 

 this quantity or part (if it means, as perhaps it does, a * head 

 and shoulders') before. 



It still remains that I should deal with some entries of 



