SEA FISHERIES. 7 



great market, and London was the first place to have 

 her wants supplied. At that time the Billingsgate 

 salesmen forwarded to the country such fish as could 

 be spared and was likely to reach its destination in 

 proper order. Even after railways had been consider- 

 ably extended, they were used more for distributing 

 the fish to the country from London than for bringing 

 it thither ; for, excepting Yarmouth, the present great 

 North Sea stations had not then attained much im- 

 portance, and both trawlers and deep-sea liners mostly 

 hailed from the Thames. As the coast lines of railway 

 became completed, their convenience for sending the 

 fish to London was soon recognized, and their fish 

 traffic rapidly increased ; for London was still the 

 great wholesale market, and the salesmen supplied 

 the country fishmongers according to the orders re- 

 ceived by post. But as time went on, and the electric 

 telegraph became generally established throughout 

 the country, a great change took place in the mode 

 of doing business. The agents at the different fishing 

 stations received notices by " wire " from their prin- 

 cipals in London of the country orders to be executed, 

 and the fish was forwarded accordingly direct from the 

 place where it was landed, thus saving both time and 

 expense. This is the present practice to a very large 

 extent; but there are many parts of England which 

 can still be most conveniently supplied from Billings- 

 gate. The fish business done by " wire " is, however, 

 considerable, and telegraph charges have become an 

 important item in the accounts of the salesman at the 

 present day. 



