THE MARKET 313 



facturers, sometimes to the market. Many fishermen sign 

 contracts with the manufacturers. Sardines are always 

 sold by the thousand. In mid-winter the thousand has 

 often risen to 2 and 2 i6s., but the price always falls 

 in spring and summer : to i 12s. in May, and 93. 6d. 

 or even 6s. in June. Tunny are sold by the dozen. 



In certain cases the sale is by sample, and the fish is 

 delivered on board. This is the case with herring and 

 mackerel, fresh or salted. Fresh herring or herring 

 salted in bulk are sold by the land last of 100 measures. 

 The measure is equivalent to 20 litres or 35-2 pints, and 

 the last weighs from 2,100 to 2,200 kilogrammes 

 2 tons i cwt. i quarter to 2 tons 3 cwt. i quarter (ap- 

 proximately). Salted herring sold by weight are sold by 

 the sea last of 13 tons for 12, which is equivalent to 60 

 measures ; a last should weigh 1,212 kilos = i ton 4 cwt. 

 (approximate). Herring salted in the cask are sold by 

 the last of 12 tons, each weighing 101 kilos net, or 

 223 Ibs., the weight of the last being the same as in the 

 preceding case. At Boulogne, Portel, and Fecamp the 

 average price of salted herring is & to fy 123. It is, 

 of course, higher in summer than in autumn, as in 

 autumn it has to compete with the fresh herring. The 

 box of herring sells for anything from 45. 9d. to 125. 

 Mackerel are sold by the hundred, which means no 

 tails with a handful or two extra ; cod by the ton and 

 the quintal. The chief market for cod is at Bordeaux. 



All other fish are taken to the floor of the market 

 directly the boat is moored to the quay. At Aberdeen 

 they are sold in lots of 5 to 10 pieces. Cod, ling, and 

 flounders are sorted into rows and sold by the group. 

 Small fish are set aside in lots of i cwt. and sold by the 

 box. At Geestmiinde the buyers foregather every 

 morning, and sales by auction commence under the 



