64 REVENUE FROM FISH. [CHAP. n. 



The fish-carrier, again, tries, by cramming as many fish as 

 possible into the large baskets, to diminish the number of 

 packages, and thus destroys a number of his fish. 



If there is little hope of a reduction of the railway tariffs, 

 there is still less chance, we think, of any reduction of the 

 town-duties. They are far too profitable to the city funds. 

 The revenue derived by the city of Paris from the sale of fish 

 amounted, in 1858, to 894,214 francs ; in 1859, to 928,925 ; 

 and in 1860 it increased to 1,027,920 francs. This sum, 

 however, only includes the dues levied upon fish carried to 

 the market. There is a separate and distinct duty upon fish 

 which arrive directly by railway to the consumer. In this 

 case fine fresh fish are subjected to a duty of 60 francs the 

 100 kilogrammes ; common fish, 15 francs ; ordinary oysters, 

 5 francs ; and Ostend oysters, 15 francs per 100 kilogrammes. 

 The exact revenue accruing to the city from this source 

 embraces these two duties ; and in estimating the full amount 

 that the merchant must pay for bringing fish into the town 

 and selling it in the market, we must add to these dues the 

 expense of cartage, railway fare, the double tithe of war, and 

 the fees to the crier. 



From the official records of the market sales, we find that 

 for six years there has been little difference in the price of 

 fish. The tables of 1852 and 1862 show that mussels, 

 shrimps, mullets, and salmon, are at the same price ; lobsters, 

 sprats, turbot, and shad, are a little less ; and mackerel, 

 whiting, monkfish, sardines, sole, tunny, trout, barbel, and 

 flounder, are slightly raised. The prices vary so little that 

 any increase in the revenue must arise from an increased 

 quantity being brought into the market. Oysters, however, 

 have increased greatly in price, although the quantity has 

 diminished. 



But allowing the French people to cultivate to the very 

 utmost as they especially do as regards the oyster it is 



