FISHING PORTS 213 



apex of the triangle formed by the pontoons ; but they 

 scarcely slacken speed, lest a less cautious skipper should 

 pass his rivals. Faster and faster they arrive, urged on 

 by the tide ; taking the corner at a lively speed, bump- 

 ing vigorously on the solid wooden guards of the quay, 

 and often heeling over a considerable angle ; but no 

 harm is done ; if they collide they recoil from the shock, 

 and the great thing is to be moored to the quay in good 

 time. Unloading commences at once ; the baskets are 

 hoisted from the hold loaded with fish ; there is a con- 

 tinual going and coming on the gangways thrown 

 between the bows of the vessels and the quay. The cod- 

 fish, all dead, with glassy eyes, are stretched out in lots of 

 12, 24, or 36; enormous halibut spread their white bellies, 

 some, still shaken by convulsive shudderings, opening 

 and shutting their huge mouths. The smaller species 

 whiting, plaice, gurnards, &c. are carefully washed on 

 the tables and arranged in wooden boxes, which are set 

 in rows along the pavement, still impregnated with the 

 smell of yesterday's catch, in spite of the washing it re- 

 ceived last night. At eight o'clock the auction commences. 

 At the northern extremity of the shed the official 

 auctioneers bawl out the names of the fish they are 

 offering for sale ; a boy vigorously rings a huge hand-bell, 

 and the buyers approach. The buyers are everywhere, 

 stamping to and fro in their heavy boots among the 

 slimy fish ; each, as a lot is knocked down to him, 

 replacing the seller's ticket by his own. Porters appear 

 immediately and remove the fish as it is bought, 

 trundling it along on barrows to the shed rented by 

 the buyer within the market enclosure. Others have 

 large warehouses connected with the market by flying 

 gangways. Thus the sale goes from end to end of the 

 quays, and all the morning and afternoon an army of 



