248 NATURAL HISTOET SKETCHES. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



SEA-FISH AND SEA-FISHING. 



BUT these coasts abound in sea-fish of many species; 

 and sea-fishing, although, like many other things in the 

 colony, now overdone, is still a paying game, when men 

 are steady and stick to their work. Since the great 

 influx of " Celestials," salt fish has risen in value ; and if 

 John Chinaman has benefited no one else in the colony, 

 he has at least done some good to the fishermen ; for 

 instead of being obliged now, as formerly, to run the fish 

 up to Melbourne themselves, or sell them to the hawkers 

 at their own prices, on every fishing station along the 

 coast Chinamen are camped, who buy the fish from the 

 boat, and salt them on the spot. Tons of salt fish are 

 yearly sent up to the diggings for consumption by the 

 Chinamen. 



There is always a ready sale for fresh fish in Mel- 

 bourne, and often at exorbitant prices. A good fish- 

 market is much wanted here. The Melbourne Billings- 

 gate is held on Prince's Bridge, at daylight, where the 

 hawkers from the country sell their fish to the street 

 hawkers, and any one who wishes to hear a little chaff or 

 colonial slang can enjoy a rich treat by paying a visit 



