V SORTING FISH 281 



and well taken, completed their transformation into 

 men. 



La saison commen(^ait! Carts — like costers' 

 carts stretched to twice their size — were deliver- 

 ing nets, coal, and ice to the boats, and taking 

 away lish. Knee-deep in herrings, men scooped 

 them up into baskets which were handed up- 

 over the quay-edge. The baskets were tipped 

 into measures, which in turn were tipped into 

 barrels on the carts. Here and there a trawler 

 was discharging. Men with bare red hands, and 

 women even, sorted the icy fish. We passed a 

 heap containing tons of dog-fish, another of great 

 thornbacks, and another of conger eels. Iridescent 

 blunt-snouted little weevers, whose taste Is as good 

 as their spines are poisonous, were being laid 

 gently into shallow baskets. 'They don't waste 

 nort here, seems so,' remarked Jim with admira- 

 tion. 'At home us grinds they weevers under- 

 neath our feet.' 



A very fat old man w'ho had no use in his legs 

 steered himself along the quay on a small three- 

 wheeled cart drawn by three dogs, one harnessed 

 beneath, and the others to the ends, of the axle. 

 Two dogs which were at liberty insulted them. 

 They broke loose. They fought, leaving the old 



