12 BRITISH IND U8TRIES. 



thousands of would-be consumers ; and although fish 

 would then be supplied in most cases in a really 

 fresher and better condition than is now often the 

 case, it would be only a luxury in very many houses 

 where it is now an article of daily consumption. 



Thus the railway system has created an immense 

 increase in the demand for fish, and the use of ice has 

 contributed materially to meet it, by preserving in a 

 wholesome condition an enormous quantity of fish 

 which would otherwise have been unsaleable. The 

 result of the combination of these two influences has 

 been a considerable development of our fisheries, and 

 consequently a great increase in the number of boats 

 and men employed in the deep-sea fishing. Yet the 

 supply has not hitherto kept pace with the unfailing 

 demand for fish among the increasing population of 

 this country; and competition between the general 

 dealers has resulted in the fishermen, as a rule, now 

 obtaining much better prices than formerly for the 

 produce of their labour. That fishing is now a gene- 

 rally profitable occupation, taking one season with 

 another, is shown not only by the fisherman being able 

 to provide for the increased expenses of his living and 

 the greater cost of everything required in his occupa- 

 tion, but by the large number of new and better class 

 of fishing boats which are taking the place of such as 

 were in general use only a few years ago. With rare 

 exceptions, all this money invested in fishing boats has 

 been the legitimate produce of fishing. 



The increase in the size of the fishing boats has not 

 been confined to any particular part of the coast, or to 



