24 



failure was at the time attributed to the difficulty 

 which the fishermen had to encounter from the 

 variations of the tide, the fall of water at London 

 Bridge, and the increase of distance. 



That all the fish for the supply of this great 

 metropolis, should have so long continued to be 

 brought to a place in size so completely unfit for 

 the purpose as Billingsgate market, is unaccountr 

 able. The crowding and confusion prevailing 

 there, during the early hours of sale are not to be 

 described ; the injurious effect of this inconve- 

 nience to the interests of the fisheries and the 

 public, will however, be readily understood. The 

 fish is sold in a kind of auction : the place is 

 completely forbidden ground to all unaccustomed 

 to combat with its difficulties : many salesmen are 

 scarcely able in the general scramble to seize a 

 spot at which to sell their fish, and some are ready 

 to resign their engagements, despairing of relief 

 from this intolerable inconvenience. ifitMntitr'ii 



The spot occupied by the fish stalls and stand- 

 ings is a small contracted slip of ground, of 

 sufficient breadth only to permit one row of them 

 on each side of it, and leave a narrow passage for 

 purchasers. There are houses on one side of this 

 place, the owners of which claim the exclusive 

 right of u!l the adjoining standings; and would 

 thus convert into private property one entire half 

 of that part of the market which is appropriated to 

 sales. A small part of it is unavoidably applied tq 



