309 



So, we have 50,000 wholly and directly depending on this 

 industry for support, and more than double that number on 

 shore whose maintenance is derived from it, independent 

 of tradesmen. 



I said the development of the trade might be traced to 

 the use of ice, this is manifested in the history of the trade 

 at the ports of Hull and Grimsby. 



Tons. . 



Hull in 1845 possessed 21 vessels of 570 value 6,425 

 1873 330 19,800 247,500 

 1882-83,, 417 29,233) 

 And 9 Steam Carriers, and 6 Ice-ships 1 " 



Grimsby, in 1845, was not used as a fishing-port, but 

 thirteen years later 1858 a few some four of the Hull 

 smack owners were induced to migrate to Grimsby, and 

 others soon followed ; but the fleets being too small in 

 number to work the trade successfully, ice was introduced 

 by which means each smack could fish his own voyage, 

 iceing each haul till a sufficiency was obtained to make a 

 payable trip, when he made sail for land ; this introduced, 

 what is now known as "single boating" and "iceing in 

 bulk.'* The London or Barking fleets, as they were called, 

 began the iceing in boxes or trunks, and at length intro- 

 duced steam carriers to bring their fish from the fleets.* 



Hull also adopted the iceing and single boating system, 

 and prospered, as the 28 years will show, the increase being 

 from 21 to 330 craft, with a like increase of tonnage. 



In 1 868 Grimsby had advanced to some importance, and 

 the trade was in that year 26,621 tons fish ; in 1880 this had 



* They first iced the fish when it was packed in baskets called pads, 

 half-pads, and pots, the ice being simply spread over it. The intro- 

 duction of the trunk system was a great means towards the better 

 preservation of the fish. 



