The Sun.
London, England, 1826-10-24 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION- if OU SE. —Yesterday James Saunders, jun.
George Harris, Thomas ingrain, Henry Venn, and. a Mr.
Hughes, fish-salesman, of Billingsgate, appeared before the Lour)
MAYOR, to answer the complaint of Mr. Goldharn, the superin-
tendent of the market, who charged them with having sold un-
wholesome fish.

Mr. Goldham has been recently appointed to the office, and,
having perceived that all sorts of fish were sold in the market, as
openly as if they were under no restrictions as to the quality, or as
if the law made no distinction between what was good and what
was bad, he thought it necessary to interfere in behalf of the public.
He seized a considerable quantity of fish at the stall of Mr. Hughes.
He seized at the different stands of the defendants about three
bushels of soles, 24, brills, two turbots, and, on the whole, about
five hundred weight of fish that was absolutely unwholesome.
The LORD MAYOR inquired whether any salesman was present
to give evidence as to the quality of the fish.
A Gentleman belonging to the market expressed his readint,s,
thOugh he was interested in the question, to give the best evideu,
in h►s power.
All the salesmen declared unanimously that it was unnecessary
to have the fish brought in and examined ; it was bad, very bad,
there could be no doubt of it.

Mr. Goldluun said it absolutely stunk.
The Loan M4YOK asked where, and in what mode, such fish
was disposed of by the retailers. Could purchasers really ha found
for it when it was in such a condition ?

Mr. GoWham said, the poor Irish Catholics were the' chief
consumers. They would eat fish of almost any sort. There was
a set of low dealers who were great adepts in concealing the de-
fects of stale fish, and by certain tricks often got rid of the worst
commodity.

The LORD MAYOR—What trial)?
Mr. Goldham...Sometimes they redden the gills of stale fish
with blood, so as to make them look of a bright red colour like
those of fresh fish ; they also cover stale fish with the slime of
fresh fish 7 • and they have been known even to scoop out the atilt
eyes of 5,1 i that have long deceased, and replace them by the eyes
of fresh fish, which appear bright and captivating.
The Loan Mayne said, that there was a description of fish

that was not absolutely prime fish, or fish of the first quality, but
which was yet far from being unwholesome. This he hoped
Mr. Goldhan►, of whose appointment be was very glad, would
not interfere with, because it would be at the expense of the poor.
Mr. Goldhain said, he made it a point to maintain this distinc-
tion. He culled over the whole quantity of fish seised, in order
to take care that there was none in it which was net decidedly un-
wholesome.

Mr. Saunders, and the other Fish Sahewn, declared that they
by no means wished to sell fish of this description ; but that so
long as one sold it, they must sell it too in their own defence. If
there were a general regulation adopted, to prevent the sale of it,
they, individually, expressed their willingness to conform to it. If
one sold fish of a dubious character, he would get more comirAis-
sions from the correspondents, than those who were what the
owners might consider fastidious. It would not do for one sales-
man to object, or be too critical, as to the qualities of fish, since it
would he construed into a disinclination to sell. It often happen-
ed, too, that the vessels were unexpectedly detained ; that delay
occurred in consequence of tricks of the market, with which their
correspondents were not aware.
The Loan MAYOR inquired on the hitter point for information
of Mr. Milton, the owner of a smack, but Mr. Milton declared
himself unable to give any information on the subject. He assured
his Lordship that lie was quite a beginner, and that for the last two
years he had not made one voyage, or seen oven how the fish were
caught. The Lord Mayor recommended him, if it were really true
that he was such a novice, at least to take one voyage. His Lord-
ship acquiesced in the suggestion of the adoption of a general rule,
and as such, gave directions that all fish of this description should
in future be seized without distinction, and that proceedings should

be taken to recover penalties; from those who sold it. fie would
not now inflict prnalties„ or do more than condemn the fish seized
to be destroyed. It was evident that it had been long an mire-

strained practice to sell fish of this description. Ile lipped sales-
men would for their own sakes give their correspondents notice
that they would no longer continue it with impunity. His Lord-

ship asked Mr. Goldhain whether he got rid of the fish by throw-
ing them into the Thames?--Mr. Goldham replied, not by throw-
ing it in from the wharfs, for then the " mud larks" would fish it
up again, and it would be abroad in the streets as fresh and sound.
He caused a boat to be loaded with it, and emptied it at the centre
arch of London 'Bridge.
The Loan MAYOa approved of this melts].
Thu *cameo inquired whether Mr. Goiditam might not seize
and destroy the fish himself without any further notice?
Tile Loan MATuit replied in, the affirmative.
The Salesmen appeared satisfied with this intimation, which
will, as we understood it, render it unnecessary for them to come
before a Magistrate, and, consequently, to submit to public expo-,
sure, unless they venture to dispute the quality of the fish, which
they will perhaps rarely do in any flagrant case which the public
is interested in knowing.
Mr. Milton, in the course of the discussion, said be had been
assured by fishermen, that soles were often kicked about the • deck
for a week, and were better than when first caught.
The LORD Wioa observed that he could not well believe that
fish would be made better by being kicked about for a week.
Mr. Milton admitted that he was a loser, by such seizures.