PRIME AND OFFAL 95 



Time after time the markets are glutted with plaice 

 and haddock, huge quantities of which are brought by 

 British and foreign trawlers to Billingsgate, Grimsby, 

 Hull, and Aberdeen, from Iceland and the White Sea. 

 If the markets have been badly supplied owing to heavy 

 weather in the North Sea, these trawlers from distant 

 waters make enormous profits ; but, if there is a big 

 supply on hand, then the cargoes fetch infinitely less. 



Looking casually at the excellent " Echoes of the 

 Markets," in The Fish Trades Gazette, I find, under the 

 Hull report for 25th May 1911, that heavy catches of 

 Iceland and White Sea fish were still being landed, but 

 that deliveries from the nearer grounds continued quite 

 inadequate to meet the requirements of the trade, " and 

 during the early part of the week the order business was 

 practically suspended through the absolute failure of 

 North Sea supplies. For some days Iceland and White 

 Sea varieties have monopolised the market, and during 

 the week-end values fell to rock-bottom level. . . . 

 White Sea plaice was difficult to dispose of at any price. 

 Monday's supplies consisted of three big catches of 

 White Sea plaice, and five voyages from Iceland, the 

 North Sea and nearer grounds being represented by one 

 solitary boat." For the same week " substantial con- 

 signments of White Sea plaice met a slack sale at 

 low figures " at Billingsgate ; while on the Monday, at 

 Grimsby, there was a huge supply from some eighty 

 steamers, Iceland and Faroe fish making an immense 

 show. There was a keen sale for haddocks ; " soles, 

 turbots, and brills were cheap enough in proportion, 

 brills occasionally selling for more than turbots." 



For winter months the reports naturally showed 



