10 BRITISH INDUSTRIES. 



warded to Billingsgate, and other large markets, where it 

 is purchased by the fishmongers, who have a stock of 

 ice at home ready to receive it ; and there it remains, 

 if properly taken care of, till it is wanted, sufficient 

 only to make an attractive display being laid out at 

 one time for sale. The fishmonger is no longer dis- 

 quieted by any doubts about the fish which is unsold 

 to-day being sound and presentable to-morrow ; if his 

 cellar be in proper order, there need be no cause for 

 anxiety. The use of ice, of course, adds to his ex- 

 penses, which he makes the public pay for, but it is a 

 real and great saving to him in fish ; were it not so, we 

 may be quite sure he would have little to do with it. 

 The wholesale dealers benefit by the use of ice, only 

 so far as it enables a larger quantity of fish to come 

 into their hands for sale. They cannot lay by what is 

 not disposed of. Overburdened Billingsgate must be 

 cleared out to-day, or there will be no room for what 

 will certainly be brought there to-morrow ; and if the 

 supply be more than is required by regular London 

 and country customers, the rest must be got rid of at 

 a price which attracts another class of buyers the 

 costermongers. 



There is always a very large quantity of " offal " fish, 

 such descriptions as are not included under the trade 

 term of " prime," purchased by these itinerant dealers, 

 and their business lies chiefly at the east end of the 

 town, in poor districts, and in back streets generally. 

 Plaice especially are in request by their customers, 

 and notwithstanding the immense supply of this fish 

 daily sent to market by the trawlers, there appears to 



