Apparently it is imagined, too, that unless trawling grounds be discovered in the vicinity of Sydney or Melbourne, all efforts will be useless.  But it will only be necessary to refer to the deep-sea fisheries elsewhere to at once set this objection aside.  Some of the great trawling grounds in the North Sea are at such a distance from port that it would be quite impossible for any vessel to bring its own catch to market for disposal, for the fish would be utterly spoiled before it could be done.  But the larger trawling boats go on cruises extending over weeks, and are constantly visited on the grounds by what are called “carriers,” i.e. steamers, who run their freights directly into market.  The same thing is practised by the Dutch vessels, who fish in the neighbourhood of the Shetland Islands for weeks together.  In the same way carrier vessels attend upon their fishing fleets, and carry off the take immediately to Holland.  Being in possession of these facts, therefore, we must not be induced to believe that deep-sea fishing is not possible, simply because suitable grounds for trawling, &c., may not be actually within coo-ee of the Australian metropolitan centres.

FISH MARKETS OF SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE.

There are one or two matters in connection with this subject which deserve having attention called to them.  In the first place the method adopted in our Woolloomooloo Fish Market of placing the fish in little heaps on the floor itself, when put out for sale, is not satisfactory.  In the Redfern Fish Market they are placed in small divisions or receptacles—­each lot by itself—­and raised above the floor, where they are protected from injury.  In the new Melbourne Fish Markets, there are elevated platforms for the fish, and they are thus quite above the cemented floor.  Not only are they prevented from being damaged, but it seems to me that the buyers have a better chance of seeing the fish when it is raised a little distance above their feet.

The size of the fish lots for sale in the Sydney and Melbourne Fish Markets varies, and this opens up a somewhat debatable point. with us the lots are comparatively small, both at the Woolloomooloo and at the Redfern Market; while at Melbourne, on the other hand, the lots are much larger.  When the lots are small it gives private buyers a chance of purchasing (but how many private buyers are there before breakfast?), and is said in this way to raise the price for the dealers.  But with the larger lots the latter are said to be able to buy to more advantage, and thus supply the public with cheaper fish.  To say which is the better of the two plans is very much like being asked to solve the query in the story of “The Lady or the Tiger.”