THE UNPOPULARITY OF SALMON.
LTO TES EDITOR OF THE"SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Under the head of " Current Literature," in last week's Spectator, I see this passage :—" We see repeated again the
curious story of the apprentices who stipulated in their indentures that they were not to have salmon more than a certain number of times in the week.' A reward has been offered for the production of any such indentures, or evidence supporting the story, but has never, we think, been claimed." I have no indentures to produce, but here is evidence in support of the story, from a trustworthy witness, himself a Newcastle apprentice of last century,—Thomas Bowl& (See his " Memoir," p. 222.)
" From about the year 1760 to '67, when a boy, I was frequently sent by my parents to purchase a salmon from the fishers of the strike at Eltringham Ford. At that time, I never paid more, and often less, than three halfpence per pound (mostly a heavy, guessed weight, about which they were not exact). Before, or perhaps about this time, there had always been an article inserted in every inden- ture in Newcastle that the apprentice was not to be obliged to eat salmon above twice a week, and the like bargain was made upon hiring ordinary servants."
—I am, Sir, &c.,
D. 0.
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