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105
This continued decrease, 1,956 tons in
1894, occurs in “land borne” fish only,
and is stated to be mainly owing to the fact,
that within the past two years, some of the
dealers obtain their supplies direct from the
Coast centres, and partly accounted for by the
business done at the Great Northern Railway
Company's Depot at Mint Street, Minories.
Perhaps, also, the large trade done principally
in wet haddocks for curing at the same Railway
Company's depot at King's Cross may have
some influence in that direction.
From the citizen's point of view, this
diminished business at Billingsgate is regretable,
but there is another side to the question.
It shews that new markets and other means
of distribution are being established for the
supply of so important an article of diet.
This decentralisation affords a reasonable
prospect of a reduction in price, which has
hitherto been absurdly high, but it does not
necessarily follow that such a consummation
will ensue, however devoutly it may be wished.
The experiment, therefore, is one that no