The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-14 00:00:00

follows;:
" All fish brought to London City must be taken
to Billingsgate market, and sold by wholesale to retail
dealers. The market to be opened at four o'clock in
the morning, sales to commence at five, and the
market to be clean scrubbed and washed out at
one P.M."
The duties of fish factors and salesmen are those of
commission agents. They also act as inspectors and
judges for regulating the market. They stand in a
position betwixt the public and the fishermen, to see
that justice is done to both parties. When cargoes of
fish are consigned to factors, they dispose of them to
the best advantage for the fishermen's interest, and
they see that the fish are in a wholesome condition
before disposing of them to the public. The " Lon-
don Directory" of this date exhibits a list of about
fifty factors and salesmen, and about four hundred
fishmongers. The factors and salesmen being paid by
commission from the quantity and quality of fish dis-
posed of, causes them to have a direct interest in look-
ing after the fishermen, to urge them on to industrial
habits, to improve their mode of capture, to produce
quality and quantity, &c. Little doubt need be en-
tertained but the rise and progress of the welled-
smack system of fishing fur supplying the London
market with living cod was the work of fish factors
and salesmen in the first instance. I have long
been of opinion, that were wholesale fish-
markets established in all large cities and towns
throughout Great Britain, the effect would have a di-
rect influence to promote fishery improvements.
When salesmen saved money from their profession
they embarked it to improve the fishing trade ; they
purchased smacks and hired crews for them, thereby
becoming smack owners and governors over those
crews. One principal cause that has prevented im-
provements from going forward amongst a great por-
tion of the fishing population has been that most of the
boat property and gear belong to themselves. The
crews are shareholders ; the profits arising from
their earnings are equally divided. They are quite
their own masters, can go to sea when they like, or
stop on shore when they like. Having no commis-
sion agents looking after them to stimulate them on
to enterprising pursuits, after a good haul stimulants
of another description sometimes make the profits
look small.
The metropolis of Great Britain being the focus
where all others look for an example to copy from,
any suggestion for improvement (if considered as such)
will be admitted. The considerable increase of fish
now sent to London market since land carriage com-
menced has increased the number of hawkers of fish
tenfold. Like all other trades overdone, many of
those individuals find it inconvenient where to go and
get a cheap, clean wash. Now that improvements
are being made in Billingsgate-market, an idea lat-
terly occurred to me that if there was either a floating-
bath, or a bath-house erected close to the market, it
would be considered a great acquisition by many.
This idea I throw out with a view that it may attract
i
the attention of those nterested.
I am, Sir, &c.,
H. DEMPSTER.

g
FOREIGN BOOKS FOR PROFESSIONAL USE.--The
Lords Commissioners cf the Treasury havin had under
their consideration a memorial, praying that some
packages of books shipped at Ostend for the port of
London may he delivered free cf charge for duty, the
same being intended for the professional use of the ap-
plicant as a teacher of languages in this country, their
Lordships have been pleased to direct their secretary to
convey their command to the proper authorities of the
revenue for the free delivery of the books in question for
the purpose stated.