306 



As the difficulty of transit has been removed, and the 

 means of getting fresh fish to the millions has been increased, 

 so the trade has steadily increased, and now the commoner 

 and more plentiful sorts of fish are transmitted in thousands 

 of tons to starving labouring classes inland, supplying them 

 with a good nutritious and wholesome meal at a moderate 

 cost. But much more has yet to be done in this respect with 

 the large supplies, now daily landed at the different fishing 

 stations, affording an immense traffic to the several Railway 

 Companies over whose lines the fish is conveyed. The 

 question must come, nay, indeed, is now to the front, 

 " Cannot this fish be carried at lower rates by the railways^ 

 and still be remunerative traffic ? " I think so ! The rates are 

 excessively high in comparison with other commodities, and 

 as the companies free themselves from any responsibility 

 incurred by delays, through special agreement with the 

 sender at lesser rates, it brings fish upon a level with other 

 commodities that are carried ; and there is a fair margin 

 for a reduction in fish rates. And as there are also 

 thousands of tons of the coarser kinds of fish which will not 

 bear the high rate of carriage which are consequently wasted, 

 there would, with lower rates, be increased traffic, which 

 would be recuperative to the Companies. 



There are thousands of tons of good wholesome food 

 ready to be consumed, and millions of starving poor 

 waiting for and wanting it ! Think of that ! If the poor 

 are to have cheaper fish it must be through the railway 

 companies reducing the rates. 



The great Creator has given a bountiful supply, the 

 catcher gets but poor reward for his labour, and is willing 

 to take what will barely remunerate him for his toil, but 

 the giant " High Railway Rate " bars the way, and says to 

 the starving poor, you shall not partake of God's bounty. 



