Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-05-20

enough to sell three times the weight
bore, although it was breaking my back
almost. Good fish it was, and deserved
all the praise that ever l could bestow on
it, for keeping so well in such shocking
weather; and so sprinkled little salt in
some of the delicate places, just to store
the flavor there; for cooks are so forgetful.
and always put the blame on me when
they fail of producing a fine fresh smell.
Also knowing, to my sorrow, how sus-
picious peaple are and narrowminded to a
degree none would give them credit for,
was forced to do a thing which always
makes me to myself seem almost unchari-
table.
But felt that | could trust nobody to
have proper faith in me, especially when
the mighty behold the eyes of the fishes
retire a little, as they are apt to do when
too many cooks have looked at them. And
knowing how strong the prejudice of the
public is in this respect, felt myself bound
to CRAFTY it, though at some cost of time
and trouble. This method | do not mind
describing (as / am now pretty clear of
the trade) for the good of my brother fish
-ermen.
| When the eyes of fish begin to fail him
through long retirement from the water
YOU may strengthen his mode of regarding
the world (and therefore the worlds re-
gard for him) by delicate piece of hand
ling. Keep 4 ray fish always ready-it
does not matter how stale lie is-and op
the same day on which You are going to
sell voar bass, or mullet, or cod or what
ever it may be, pull Il few sharp splnes, as
clear rs You can, out of this good ray
Then open the mouth of your languid fish
and embOlden the aspect of either eye by
fetching it up from despondency with Il
skewer of proper length extended from
one ball TO the other. 1t is almost sure to
drop out in the cooking; and even if ii
fails to DO so none will be the wiser, but
take it from provision of nature-as in
deed it ought to be.
Now, if anybody is rude enough to gain
say your fish in the market, you have the
evidence of the eyes and hands against
that of the nose alone. Why. bless me,
madam | used to say, 8 Il lady like you,
that understands fish a great deal better
than do, His eyes are coming out of his
head ma am, to hear you say such things
of him. Afioat he was at four this morn
inc, and his eyes will speak to it And
so he was, well afioat in my tub. before
began to prepare him for a last appeal to
Tie puDllc. oHiS uicy lhu>e hot hO'tN ~
long, or the scales will not be stiff enough
Being up to a few OF these things and
feeling very keenly how hard the public
always tries to get the upper hand of me
and would beat me down to half nothing I
pound if allowed altogether its own way
/ fought very bravely the whole of that
Monday to turn few honest shillings
: Good old Davy, fine old Davy, brave old
Dayy," they said was every time | abat-
ed half penny; and I called them generou,
gentlemen and Christian minded ladie,
every time they wanted TO smell my fish,
which is not right before payment. What
right has any man to disparage the prop
erty of another? When you have bought
him he is your own; but when he IS yet IL
the scales remember nothing but good o
the dead" if you remember anything
From the ." Mud of Sker."