Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-14
EVENING STAR.
A LONDON FISH STORY

Thomas ellison, retailer of fsh in Billinos.
gate, was brought before the Lord Mayor fo,
having followed Mr.. Goldman, the clerk OF
the market, from place to place with a loaded
stick, blow from which, inflicted by a man
Of moderate strength, would fell an OK 1t
was proved that the defendant had been, in
consequence Of repeated acts of misconduct,
interdicted the run of the market by Mr.
G0ldham; that he threatened Mr.. Goldman,
who found 1t necessary to wrest the dangerous
instrument from his hands, and that the stick
had been made heavy within the last few days
for the purpose of real mischief.
The Lord Msyor-What is the general con
duct Of the old man?
Mr. Goldman, to the surprise and amuse-
ment of the crowd in the Justices room, gave
the following account Of ellison: "I have
had great deal of trouble with the defend
ant who is constantly imposing on the public
by the tricks of his trade He puts the gills
of fresh fish into the bodies Of fish that have
been long dead, and he also supplies the
heads OF fish with fresh eyes Sometimes he
throws little blood amongst the pale old gills
of the fish, and the old ladies are deceived by
the freshness of their appearance, the cod or
mackerel actually looking as If it had Just
passed the agonies of death, and throw down
their money for prize that, when they get il
home, turns out to be as bad as a three weeks
old smelt. Great laughter
The Lord Mayor have often heard of
giving new feathers to birds, and of making
" wonderful crocodile" of the skin of a huff
falo lined with block tin, laughter but 1
never heard of making up food in the market
before.
Mr.. GOldham-It was only the other day he
imposed a Dutch plaice on an old lady for
what he called a turbot. Laughter. She
said, GO 0 dear, a turbot a young undergrovn
turbot, l suppose. eyes, ma am" said he,
just like parroquet, but younger and more
tender" So the lady took home her turbot,
and it was more tender sure enough. IGreat
laughter The lady came down the next day,
but Tom was too good a judge to be there.
She had paid g. for the turbot. and he had
sold its fellows, when good, at i'd piece
Laughter.
The Lord Mayor-Is it true, defendant, that
you act in this way?
Gilson-Why, my Lord, they do put new
gills and eyes into the fish that comes up to the
market but howsomedever the fish amt the
worse for having bad eyes and white gills
The fish may be good FISH, though his eyes is
sore Laughter) But there's some people as
won't have no fish as amt perfect everywhere
and so we're obliged for to please 'em, and we
do put in fresh eye or two that looks bright,
and the moment they sees the eyes glisten,
they say I'll have that 'un. loud laughter
Howsomedever, we never beauties, barrin
the fish is good fish.
The Lord Mayor ito Mr.. Goldham) and is
1t the fact that people are imposed upon by
this sort Of dealing?
Mr.. Goldham-Nct doubt of it, nv Lord.
lady bought turbot short time ago from
this man, and as it had been lying on his form
for some time, it began to get Aabby. To
remedy this defect, he showed stick up the
body, which, of course, became quite stiff
enough, and he soon found a customer Down
came the lady next day, to the terror of the
defendant, who, however, had not much rea-
son to frightened, for she says to him, " My
good man, L don't blame you, but we could mt
eat bit of the poor turbot yesterday. Doyou
know that the unfortunate fish must have
suffered great deal of agony, for upon boil
ing him, We found that he had swallowed a
piece OF timber very nearly as long as himself
Laughter
Gilson-But the fish was good, please your
lordship This lady did Mt think there was apy
good In him II he wasn't as stiff as q poker;
and thinked it no harm for to ram a bit of
clean wood in him, for to make it an out-and-
out caper. Laughter She might have ct
him if she chose; the wittles be got after the
life was out Of him done him no manner of
harm.
The Lord Mayor-WelI, you have acted
candidly at any rate, and confessed that you
are practised imposter. But pray, what
blood do you color the gills Of the fish with
Gilson-It don't signify, please you my Lord;
any blood as is nearest at hand
The Lord Mayor ito the defend anti How
much do you get for doctoring fish in this man
ner, to cheat family with (?
Gilson-Pd like to have little to do in that
way, my Lord, but not for cheating takes
pride In beautifying the watery mammals.
Laughter
The Lord Mayor-For all that I'll make
you find bail.
Here the son of the defendant, also a fish
retailer, but respectable young man, offered
bail, which was Immediately received