BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 365 
deep all still in death, save generally the refractory conger, who always 
did refuse to adapt himself to fish-market circumstances; and the 
plaice, with their beautiful orange spots. With the latter the auc- 
tioneer’s hand, of course, had no trouble, for they, jammed head first 
into baskets, could only feebly flip their tails. But as to the conger, 
he invariably shows that 4 there is life in the old dog’ by wriggling 
astray from his proper squad, and joining the stock in trade of some 
other dealer. A knock on the head generally brings him to his senses — 
or, rather, knocks them out of him — for awhile; but he invariably tries 
another move when the fit is over, and so on until, like a sensible fish, 
he agrees that 4 it ain’t no use going agin the grain.’ The cargoes of 
the trawlers are almost invariably eked out by a basket or two of crabs, 
crawfish, and a whole category of nondescripts, which give an inter- 
esting insight into marine life of the lower depths of the ocean. Soon 
some five or six. auctioneers were busily engaged in selling the fish, 
and the running-fire of chaff appeared to be endless. The sales, on 
an average morning, last over some hours, and on turning attention 
from the group which are standing round the collections of fish on the 
floor we find that the trawlers have, for the most part, either gone, or 
are in the act of casting off from the quay, to go up river to secure 
coals for the next trip. The close of the auction sales does not, by any 
means diminish the animation on th.e quay. For a long while after- 
wards buyers were busy moving their purchases to their respective 
packing sheds, where a number of busy hands were always to be 
found. About the most queer sight of the fish quay was that of oper- 
ations at the 4 gutting’ tubs. The corporation have provided a proper 
place for the fishwives— who hawk fish locally — to gut and cleanse 
their purchases before setting forth on their rounds. Here some half 
dozen quaintly-dressed women were up to their wrists in the animating 
operation of emptying, haddock, cat-fish, and the like, their tongues 
keeping up a round of merry gossip. 
44 Before the trawlers were seen going to sea again, the bustle of the 
day was about over. I watched several of the boats depart, and could 
not help thinking that their calling was as risky as it was hard. They 
have to bear up against downright bad weather before giving in, for 
when the sea is rough and trawlers are few, then high prizes are made. 
The boats often suffered by sudden outbursts of bad weather ; and 
sometimes, thinking that it might blow over, have had to plow their 
way home through a perfect hurricane. As if to preface them for this 
kind of ordeal, they invariably get a dusting during October. Despite 
their daring, however, accidents are few, and happily it is several years 
since any of them got into serious trouble. Somehow they always 
seem to be unlucky in the spriug, for when the approach of Easter 
sends up the price of fish, the weather is generally so rough as to defy 
them leaving home.” 
5. Fish carriage . — The subject of fish carriage is one of great impor- 
