2 8o ALONGSHORE v 



forth, which are not considered good eating in 

 England, where a fish is judged as much by its 

 appearance and reputed habits as by its flavour. 

 In the wholesale market a fat little auctioneer 

 behind a barrier chirped bids, for all the world 

 like a sparrow in shelter from storm. The bustle 

 was tremendous. But how orderly after the hustle, 

 the cursing confusion of Billingsgate! 



Roe, scales, slime, and blood of herrings make 

 a fishy mess; with coal-dust added they make a 

 filthy mess. The quayside was coated with it 

 (quick urchins darted in among the crowd to 

 snatch up crushed and dirty fish) ; the boats were 

 crusted with it, and so were the men's brown 

 overalls. At first, for eyes accustomed to navy- 

 blue jerseys and ears more used to British cuss- 

 words, the Boulonnais fishermen seemed nimble 

 manikins, as all alike as a flock of sheep, their 

 dialect a monkeys' gibberish; but when the sun- 

 light caught the herring-scales it gave jewels to 

 their beards, gems to their ears, and to the tips of 

 their noses. Wives, daughters, and sweethearts, 

 bringing food and steaming hot soup to the quay- 

 side; family breakfast-parties seated around the 

 long loaves aboardship; laughter, kisses, hearty 

 slaps on the back, a box on the ears soundly given 



