The inquiry ordered by the Corporation into the London Fish
Supply, which is simply disgraceful, has commenced, and the chief Traffic-managers have given their evidence. They all say that the source of delay and expense is the monopoly enjoyed by Billingsgate. In spite of quick trains, the delivery to the market, owing to the want of space, takes from five to ten hours, and this with the consequent spoiling of the fish, is the first cause of the high prices. There must be markets, because the fishmongers cannot order fish direct from the supplying ports, as butchers do meat. The fish may not be there, and a good shop may want small supplies from a dozen ports at once, each contributing the kind of fish it has obtained. The Traffic- managers suggest three markets for London, but if the Cor- poration's monopoly were abolished, there would probably be at least nine, one for each borough. The Corporation should look to it, for it is the Conservative classes who are getting irri- tated at the preposterous prices asked for the better fish. Salmon is more than twice the price of good beef.
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