The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-05

Fulton market, is computed at sixteen thousand, in
dependent of the "small meat which Is the general
title for mutton, veal lamb, and pork. The business
of the regular butchers is said to be extensive
than that Of the same class in Washington market
A butcher informed us that he expended, during
one year, $l5O,0O0 for the purchase Of cattle, and
that he paid, besides about sixty dollars day, the
whole year round, for meat which he was obliged to
buy from other dealers considerable portion OF
this meat is however, salted and picked, in barrels,
and some of it is sent direct from the slaughterhouse
TO their customers As general thing the butchers
doing business in the market are opposed to the
granting of licenses to isolated stalls throughout the
city. Some of them believe that the establishment
of few more markets would be more desirable, and
better suited to the wants of the people. great
deal of diseased and unhealthy meat, it Is said,
is sold at these stalls, which could not
lie exposed for sale in the open market without de-
lection and instant exposure. However this may be,
are not prepared to decides but there is one thing
certain-that every honest butcher who is cognizant
OF such practices should out of respect for the credit
OF his business, and in justice to the public, inform
the proper authorities of them. About year and
a hall ago, butcher was expelled from Fulton
market, by those engaged in the business, for
exposing diseased meat for sale; and although he
has made several applications to be permitted to re-
turn he has never been allowed to rent stall in the
market since. Such course, il uniformly pursued
in every of the kind s calculated to secure the
public confidence in any market in which it is
adopted.
In addition to the regular butchers there are about
fifteen commission dealers in the centre OF the
market, who also sell meat of various kinds. Their
sales very limited, however, and do not exceed
two hundred thousand dollars in the year. They
are not however it should be understood restricted
to the sale Of meat but do an extensive business in
tnk-1 h4sr ia COLD nj ttlsinyr Hyn
per cent and they are not allowed by the market
rules 10 sell it by retail.
THE FISH TRADE.
Fulton market is, par excellence, the greatest fish
depot in New York, and for this it is peculiarly
adapted by its location. 1t is estimated that the
number OF fishing vessels constantly employed by
the dealers exceeds one hundred and fifty, varying in
capacity from twenty to one hundred and twenty tons
The average cost OF each of these fishing smacks,
as they are termed il about four thousand dollars,
including fishing tackle, &C., and the number Of men
employed upon them is about thousand The
New York fishermen are remarkably hardy and
healthy class, and are capable OF enduring an al
most incredible amount Of fatigue and labor. Their
occupation, at particular seasons is very aborious
they are exposed TO all kinds OF weather and to this
principally is owing their hardness and strength.
They are also very frugal and provident, and the
majority ofthem part owners OF the boats on which
they are employed Their pursuit is much more
lucrative than might be supposed and in a few
years some have been known to accumulate, if not
large fortunes, at least sufficient to render them
comfortable for life. As general thing, the
fishermen are not employed on regular wages, like
sailors, but work shares, receiving at the end Of
each trip an equal apportionment of the whole pro-
ceeds. AS this is subject of peculiar interest we
may be pardoned for making DEPRESSION here
for the purpose of entering into brief explanation
Of the manner in which this business is conducted
The fishing smacks are owned generally by compa-
MES Of three four, and sometimes more, who are
entitled to about twoffths the amount of all the fish
caught each trip, the remaining threeffths being
distributed among the captain mate, and the rest of
the hands. The only one on board who receives
regular salary is the cook, whose particular duties
prevent him from engaging in the business Of catch
ing fish. As We have already said, the fishermen
are frequently part owners Of the boats, and they
therefore entitled to separate share on that ac-
count. Their profits, therefore, on a successful trip
are very large, exceeding sometimes forty and
even fifty dollars in one week. 1t not unfrequenty
happens however, that company Of fishermen
vide the proceeds equally among themselves, after
deductng the amount paid for the hire to the
In some cases, however. the hands are engaged for
regular wages. Working on shares is generally re-
garded as the best method that could be adopted,
for it gives the direct interest in the success
OF the vessel and renders them more expert in their
occupation. In fact, it was the remarkable expert
ness OF the American fishermen in the British
waters. and their general superiority to the British,
that gave rise to the late fishery difficulty with
Great Britain. The fishermen Of the colonies. who
worked for wages, could not compete with men who
were their own masters. and who had direct inter-
est in their work. They were not independent;
they had not the same motive for exertion; and a
natural consequence, they were unable to cope,
in their own waters, and under the protection of
their own Tag with our fishermen. They therefore
desired the iuterpostion Of their government in
their behalf. for they knew well that they could not
contend with any chance of success against such
formidable competitors.
The New York fishing boats are remarkable for
their strength, their neatness, aud their peculiar
adaptation TO the occupation in which they are
employed. Their tackle is of the best description,
"h0h and lire, hook and sinker' and each boat has
what il termed fish well. in which fish are pre-
served alive for the market. This is particularly
interesting feature in these vessels and it IL Of
the most important parts The fish well il generally
placed in the centre Of the boat and at the top is
about three feet in length by two in width. At
first sight il looks like diminutive hatchway, but
which il let in through holes in the bottom Of the
vessel. To the unntiated this may appear incredi-
bic as il il generally thought that vessel with
holes NUT inevitably sunk Such N not the case,
however with the fishing boats, for the fish wells
are constructed that the height Of the water in
them il always regulated by the draught ofthe boat.
When the Ash are caught they are Immediately
thrown into the well, snd kept there until they are
transferred IN the fish ears There are about two
hundred f-h in the dock at the foot of Fulton
street. all which are convenient to the fish stands.
They Of different dimensions, and each capable
OF containing about seven thousand pounds of fish.
The average cost is about twenty dollars and their
total value may be- estimated at about four thou-
sand. A good, substantial car will last 1for three
years, but during that time it may require frequent
repairs. The kinds of fish kept in these chiefly
halibut, Goldfish, blackish. and sea bass.
In addition to the "smacks,' there are large
number 81 small boats employed on the fishing
grounds near SIR. " hurry and for a considerable