360 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
market by a gang of men, wlio take tlie trunks of fish on their shoulders 
and heads, and passing in. single file back and forth over gang-planks 
that stretch across the decks of barges, or pontoons, form one of the 
most peculiar and grotesque processions one ever has the opportunity 
to see. By some dock regulation, or because of a lack of sufficient 
depth of water, the steam carriers are prohibited from coming alongside , 
of the pier, upon which the market building stands, to discharge their 
cargoes. Large pontoons are mo ved in front of the market, and to these 
the vessels make fast, so that the fish must be carried a distance of 
75 to 100 feet or more. Gangways of plank are laid from the steamer i 
to the pier, but as these are often unprotected by railings of any kind, 
it sometimes happens that one of the fish porters falls into the river, a 
mishap which is liable to have fatal consequences. But since it is the ; 
busiuess of those bringing fish to Billingsgate to “make their own 
roads,” less attention is paid to safety than would seem desirable. 
Noth withstanding an occasional accident the work goes on vigorously 
until the whole cargo is landed, and the carrier is once more ready to 
proceed to sea in quest of the “fleet” she attends, and to brave again 
the perils and discomforts of a passage to and from, the North Sea fish- 
ing grounds. 
2. Selling fish by auction . — The great gong striking the hour of 5 in 
the morning announces that the salesmen of the market are to begin j 
business, and with a hurry-scurrying rush they reach their desks, 
surrounding which are a number of low benches or tables, upon which 
are placed the fish that are put up at auction, sold, and speedily cleared 
away to give place for new stock, this process being repeated over and 
over again until the sale closes. As fast as the fish arrive in Billings- 
gate, after the day’s sales begin, they are rapidly disposed of at auc- 
tion, 1 the salesmen using their long account books, instead of a ham- 
mer, to knock down the goods. One can not imagine a more novel 
sight than can be witnessed here in the early morning when business is 
at its full swing, the porters rushing hither and thither with packages 
of fish on their heads, quite regardless of whom they may jostle or be- 
1 “ The auction/’ says a writer in “ The Fisheries of the World ” [published by Cas- 
s ell & Co., London, 1883], “was formerly conducted in Dutch fashion, so called; the 
prices sinking till they reached the level of some one of the purchasers, who was not 
allowed to inspect, except in the most cursory manner, the bargain he was trying to 
secure. Nowadays most salesmen are licensed auctioneers, and the goods are quickly 
knocked down to the purchasers in the usual manner. Soles, plaice, fresh haddocks, 
skate, etc., are sold in ‘trunks/ but cod and ling by the score or half-score. Her- 
rings are sold on the vessels alongside by the long hundred, a very long hundred, for 
it exceeds that number by thirty. Eels are also sold for the most part on the Dutch 
boats which bring them, and sprats are sold on board the vessels by the bushel. 
Salmon, salmon trout, and some of the liner fish are sold by private contract.” 
The average wholesale prices, as stated by a leading salesman of Billingsgate to 
Mr. B. W. Duff, M. P., are as follows: Sole, salmon, brill, gray mullet, John Dory, 
whiting, and eels Is. (equal to 24 cents) per pound ; haddock, sprats, cod, herring, 
coal fish, plaice, ling, and hake bring an average of only 2d. (4 cents) per pound. 
