Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-06


She caused superb building to be
erected in East London. 1t was un-
deubtedly the most perfect and COM
plete structure of this kind in the world.
1t was called the Columbia Fish Market,
and was opened under the patronage OF
royalty itself. But the costers backed
their carts up TO old l}illingsgate and
chuckled. Columbia Fish Market was
closed more speedily than that Of Hun
gerford Stairs, since which the ancient
tyrant has tlourished with greater vigor
than ever.
The varieties of fish which are in
their respective seasons delivered at
Billingsgate market number nearly 100.
During this month have noticed perch,
pcriwinkles, pike, anchovies, roach, sal
mon, gurnets, haddocks, hcrrings,
founders, turbot, sprats, jack, ling,
plalce, dorees, prawns, catfish, mullets,
whelks, coaltish, trout, soles, pilchards,
cells and conger cells, doglish, cod, Dream,
brill, hake, shad, weavers, skate, smelts,
whitehall, tench, sturgeon and perhaps
dozen other varieties; and the total
weight is from 10000 to 10000 tons per
month or 100000 tons per yearl
vi this vast quantity fully thirds
reaches London by railway. All the fish
from Ireland is sent across St. Georges
channel in fast steamers and thence by
rail. Salmon and trout all come by rail;
and much Of the northern North Sea
yield, taken off cast Scottish shores, and
even some OF the catches from about
Yarmouth and Scarborough are, for the
sake Of time saving, thus transferred
Small tubauln1 Land HAD
vidcd by the railways. These are
dragged by horses from fishing stations
or quays to railway stations, wheeled
into the railway vans, and thus brought
to London without breaking bulk. On
arrival here they are wheeled to the
street and dragged by horses through
the streets from various stations to Bill
ingsgate. Fully 100000 tons of fish an
nually reach the market in this manner;
and from 5 o'clock Of any weekday
morning, hundreds upon hundreds of
these vans, choke up every narrow
avenue Of approach, waiting their turn
10 unload.
Over three-fourths of all the fish con-
sumed by London passes inspection at
Billingsgate. AS the market is city
property the officials for this purpose,
four in number, are appointed by the
court of the tishmongels Company, one
of the ancient but still thoroughly active
guilds, or trades companies Of London.
1t has fine Fishmonger's Hall near
London bridge, and expends many
thousands yearly in preventing the sale
Of decayed fish. All fish condemned by
its inspectors are Immediately conveyed
to waiting barge, treated with car
bolic acid and sent to fcrlilizing works
at Rainham, where, after being baked
dry, they are ground to powder and
sold at about Is per ton to the straw
berry and hop farmers of Kent for fer.
tllizlng purposes.
The fish steamers arrive alongside the
market at all hours of the night and
carly morning. At precisely o'clock
in the morning the market opens. Long
lines of plank are laid from the market
quay, over barges and pontoons to the
steamers decks, and every ounce of fish
is brought over these in baskets and
bags on porters' heads and backs. AT
the same time the railway vans are un-
loading on the landward side. But six
can be cared for at the same time, The
scribable. One who witnesses the scene
for the first time is filled with amaze
ment that the largest and most civilized
carltal in the world will tolerate such
Anticipated methods. But the porters
are wonderfully deft, alert and carry
incredible loads. l have seen many
laden with from 200 to 300 pounds
weight. They will positively frisk
under barrel of herrings which weighs
200 pounds, and there is no question
that many of these fellows can easily
get about the market with upwards Of
400 pounds properly distributed upon
head and back.
These Billingsgate porters are re.
garded as the strongest, quickest and
most athletic men in London. They live
in every respect like the water rats of
the Thames and the aristocracy of the
Whitechapel district. Their only earthly
ambitions are to eat, drink, visit "penny
gaifs," rat and dog lights, and excel in
pugilism. They aie big, brawnev,
hairy-chested fellows of apparent end.
less good nature, but are brutes by
heredlty, instinct and deepest yearn-
ing Whatever their want of
character outside the market, a more
demure and lamb,like set of fellows
was never seen than they are while on
duty here. They are licensed and the
strictest regulations exist regarding
their conduct, even to the character Of
language. 10 lose their license is worse
than imprisonment as IA criminal, Their
regulations" among their fellows, the
costers, and the East End slums are
gained by their proves and strength
here. 1t is their world, their highest,
broadest outlook, and they are really
curiosities in social or literary study.
They delight especially in odd sound
ing nicknames. In my few visits to
Billingsgate | have already come to
know, and he fayoMbly known by
"Fishy JIM "Cocky Jim," "Black
| Prince" Jack the Float "Hannv
Jack" "Johnny Shoe-back, !" ".Jimmy
| Fingers" the latter because of his
thieVlng propcnsitics, "Blue-nose Mike !"
"Cross-eyed ,loc,' and "Four-ale lin, y
The latter is never quite at his best I'M
less he has drunk SIX or seven quarts of
ale before breakfast! The oath of all
these BillinBsgato porters, like that of
the fosters, to which class they have
marked atlinitics, is "Gor bli mcr' and
its .wickedness is too abhorent for trans
lation. they comprise two Glasses in
their daily market work, those who
bring the fish from the steamers into the
market, who are called "shorers," and
those who remove the fish to the STALL
mems wagons, or the costers' carts, who
are called "mobbers."
The pugiIis'5 of London chiefly have
their origin among the Billingsgate por.
tiers They have their regular cham.
pions at seven stone six, "eight stone
six and eleven stone, and Officer 100,