TEI | London Labour and the London Poor, Volume 1 | ID: 73666f96f

London Labour and the London Poor, Volume 1

Mayhew, Henry

1861

Of the Quantity of Game, Rabbits, and Poultry, Sold in the Streets.

IT appears from inquiries that I instituted, and from authentic returns which I procured on the subject, that the following is the quantity of game and poultry sold yearly, as an average, in the markets of the metropolis. I give it exclusive of such birds as wild-ducks, woodcocks, &c., the supply of which depends upon the severity of the winter. I include all wild birds or animals, whether considered game or not, and I use round numbers, but as closely as possible.

122

During the past Christmas, however, I may observe, that the supply of poultry to the markets has been greater than on any previous occasion. The immensity of the supply was favourable to the hawker's profit, as the glut enabled him to purchase both cheaply and largely. young poultry-hawker told me that he had cleared in the Christmas week, and had spent it all in days—except reserved for stock-money. It was not spent in drunkenness, a large portion of it being expended in treats and amusements. So great, indeed, has been the supply of game and poultry this year, that a stranger, unused to the grand scale on which provisions are displayed in ihe great metropolitan marts, on visiting Leadenhall, a week before or after Christmas, might have imagined that the staple food of the London population consisted of turkeys, geese, and chickens. I give, however, an yearly supply:

Description.	Leadenhall.	Newgate.	Total.	Proportion sold in the Streets.
GAME, &c.
Grouse . . . . . . . . .	45,000	12,000	57,000	One-eleventh.
Partridges . . . . . . . .	85,000	60,000	145,000	One-seventh.
Pheasants . . . . . . . .	44,000	20,000	64,000	One-fifth.
Snipes . . . . . . . . .	60,000	47,000	107,000	One-twentieth.
Wild Birds . . . . . . . .	40,000	20,000	60,000	None.
Plovers . . . . . . . . .	28,000	18,000	46,000	None.
Larks. . . . . . . . . .	213,000	100,000	313,000	None.
Teals . . . . . . . . . .	10,000	5,000	15,000	None.
Widgeons . . . . . . . .	30,000	8,000	38,000	None.
Hares . . . . . . . . .	48,000	55,000	102,000	One-fifth.
Rabbits . . . . . . . . .	680,000	180,000	860,000	Three-fourths.
	1,283,000	525,000	1,807,000
POULTRY.
Domestic Fowls . . . . . .	1,266,000	490,000	1,756,000	One-third.
------------(alive) . . . .	45,000	15,000	60,000	One-tenth.
Geese . . . . . . . . .	888,000	114,000	1,002,000	One-fifth.
Ducks . . . . . . . . .	235,000	148,000	383,000	One-fourth.
----(alive) . . . . . . .	20,000	20,000	40,000	One-tenth.
Turkeys . . . . . . . . .	69,000	55,000	124,000	One-fourth.
Pigeons . . . . . . . . .	285,000	98,000	383,000	None.
	2,808,000	940,000	3,748,000
Game, &c. . . .	1,283,000	525,000	1,807,000
	4,091,000	1,465,000	5,555,000

In the above return wild ducks and woodcocks are not included, because the quantity sent to London is dependent entirely upon the severity of the winter. With the costers wild ducks are a favourite article of trade, and in what those street tradesmen would pronounce a favourable season for wild ducks, which means a very hard winter, the number sold in Londen will, I am told, equal that of pheasants (). The great stock of wild ducks for the London tables is from Holland, where the duck decoys are objects of great care. Less than a of the importation from Holland is from Lincolnshire. These birds, and even the finest and largest, have been sold during a glut at each. Woodcocks, under similar circumstances, number with plovers (), nearly all of which are "golden plovers;" but of woodcocks the costermongers buy very few: "They're only a mouthful and a half," said of them, "and don't suit our customers." In severe weather a few ptarmigan are sent to London from Scotland, and in - great numbers were sent to the London markets from Norway. salesman received nearly ptarmigan in day. A portion of these were disposed of to the costers, but the sale was not such as to encourage further importations.

The returns I give show, that, at the great game and poultry-markets, birds and animals, wild and tame, are yearly sent to London. To this must be added all that may be consigned direct to metropolitan game-dealers and poulterers, besides what may be sent as presents from the country, &c., so that the London supply may be safely estimated, I am assured, at .

It is difficult to arrive at any very precise computation of the quantity of game and poultry sold by the costers, or rather at the money

123

value (or price) of what they sell. The most experienced salesmen agree, that, as to , including everything popularly considered game (and I have so given it in the return), they sell -. As regards , however, their purchases fall very short of a . Of the best qualities of game, and even more especially of poultry, a of the hawkers may buy a , compared with their purchases in the lower-priced kinds. The others buy none of the best qualities. The more "aristocratic" of the poultry-hawkers will, as a rule, only buy, "when they have an order" or a sure sale, the best quality of English turkeycocks; which cannot be wondered at, seeing that the average price of the English turkey-cock is salesman this year sold (at Leadenhall) several turkey-cocks at each, and at The average price of an English turkey-hen is , and of these the costers buy a few: but their chief trade is in foreign turkey-hens; of which the average price (when of good quality and in good condition) is The foreign turkey-cocks average half the price of the English (or ). Of Dorking fat chickens, which average the couple, the hawkers buy none (save as in the case of the turkey-cocks); but of the Irish fowls, which, this season, have averaged the couple, they buy largely. On the other hand they buy nearly all the rabbits sent from Scotland, and half of those sent from Ostend, while they "clear the market"—no matter of what the glut may consist—when there a glut. There is another distinction of which the hawker avails himself. The average price of young plump partridges is the brace, of old partridges, ; accordingly, the coster buys the old. It is the same with pheasants, the young averaging the brace, the old : "And I can sell them best," said man; "for my customers say they're more tastier-like. I've sold game for years, or more, but I never tasted any of any kind, so I can't say who's right and who's wrong."

The hawkers buy, also, game and poultry which will not "keep" another day. Sometimes they puff out the breast of a chicken with fresh pork fat, which melts as the bird roasts. "It freshens the fowl, I've been told, and improves it," said man; "and the shopkeepers now and then, does the same. It's a improvement, sir."

In the present season the costers have bought of wild ducks, comparatively, none, and of teal, widgeons, wild birds, and larks, none at all; or so sparely, as to require no notice.

Information
Table Of Contents

This object is in collection

Edwin C. Bolles papers

Subject

Temporal

1861

Permanent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10427/53837

ID:: 73666f96f
Component ID:: tufts:MS004.002.052.001.00001
To Cite:: TARC Citation Guide EndNote
Usage:: Detailed Rights

	View all images in this book
	Title Page
	PREFACE
	The Street-Folk: Of Wandering Tribes in General
	Of the Wandering Tribes of this Country
	Of the London Street-Folk
	Of the Number of Costermongers and Other Street-Folk Of the Number of Costermongers and Other Street-Folk Of the Varieties of Street-Folk in General, and Costermongers in Particular Of Costermongering Mechanics Ancient Calling of Costermongers Of the Obsolete Cries of the Costermongers Of the Costermongers 'Economically' Considered The London Street Markets on a Saturday Night The Sunday Morning Markets Habits and amusements of Costermongers Gambling of Costermongers 'Vic Gallery' The Politics of Costermongers.-- Policemen Marriage and Concubinage of Costermongers Religion of Costermongers Of the Uneducated State of Costermongers Language of Costermongers Of the Nicknames of Costermongers Of the Education of Costermongers' Children The Literature of Costermongers Of the Honesty of Costermongers Of the Conveyances of the Costermongers and Other Street-Sellers Of the 'Smithfield Races' Of the Donkeys of the Costermongers Of the Costermongers' Capital Of the 'Slang' Weights and Measures Of Half Profits Of the Boys of the Costermongers, and their Bunts Of the Juvenile Trading of the Costermongers Of the Education of the 'Coster-Lads' The Life of a Coster-Lad Of the 'Penny Gaff' Of the Coster-Girls The Life of a Coster Girl Of Costermongers and Thieves Of the More Provident Costermongers Of the Homes of the Costermongers Of the Dress of the Costermongers Once Try You'll Come Again Of the Diet and Drink of Costermongers Of the Cries, Rounds, and Days of Costermongers Of the Costermongers on their Country Rounds Of the Earnings of Costermongers Of the Capital and Income of the Costermongers Of the Providence and Improvidence of Costermongers Of the Costermongers in Bad Weather and During the Cholera Of the Costermongers' Raffles Of the Markets and Trade Rights of the Costerongers, and of the Laws Affecting Them Of the Removals of Costermongers From the Streets Of the Tricks of Costermongers
	Of the Street-Sellers of Fish Of the Street-Sellers of Fish Of the Costermongers' Fish Season Billingsgate Of the Forestalling of Markets and the Billingsgate Of 'Wet' Fish-Sellers in the Streets
	Of Sprat-Selling in the Streets Of Sprat-Selling in the Streets Of Shell-Fish Sellers in the Streets Of Shrimp Selling in the Streets Of Oyster Selling in the Streets Of Periwinkle Selling in the Streets Of 'Dry' Fish Selling in the Streets Gross Value of the Several Kinds of Fish Annually Sold in the Streets of London
	Of the Street-Sellers of Fruit and Vegetables Of the Kinds and Quantity of Fruit and Vegetables Sold in the Streets Of the Fruit and Vegetable Season of the Costermongers Of Covent Garden Market Of 'Green' Fruit Selling in the Streets Of the Orange and Nut Market Of Orange and Lemon Selling in the Streets Of Nut Selling in the Streets Of Roasted Chestnuts and Apples Of 'Dry' Fruit Selling in the Streets Of the Street-Sale of Vegetables Of the 'Aristocratic' Vegetable-Sale Of Onion Selling in the Streets Of Pot-Herbs and Celery Gross Value of the Fruit and Vegetables Sold annually in the London Streets
	Of the Stationary Street-Sellers of Fish, Fruit, and Vegetables Of the Number of Street Stalls Of the Character of the Street-Stalls Of Fruit-Stall Keepers Of a Public Meeting of Street-Sellers
	Of the Street-Irish Of the Street-Irish Of the Causes Which Have Made the Irish Turn Costermongers How the Street-Irish Displanted the Street-Jews in the Orange Trade Of the Religion of the Street-Irish Of the Education, Literature, Amusements, and Politics of the Street-Irish The Homes of the Street-Irish Irish Lodging-Houses For Immigrants Of the Diet, Drink, and Expense of Living of the Street-Irish Of the Resources of the Street-Irish as Regards 'Stock-Money,' Sickness, Burials, &c. Of the History of Some Irish Street-Sellers Of the Irish 'Refuse'--Sellers
	Of the Street-Sellers of Game, Poultry (Live and Dead), Rabbits, Butter, Cheese, and Eggs Of the Street-Sellers of Game, &c. Of the Quantity of Game, Rabbits, and Poultry, Sold in the Streets Of the Street-Purchasers of Game and Poultry Of the Experience of a Game Hawker Statement of Two Poultry Hawkers Of the Street Sale of Live Poultry Of Rabbit Selling in the Streets Of the Street Sale of Butter, Cheese, and Eggs
	Of the Sellers of Trees, Shrubs, Flowers (Cut and In Pots), Roots, Seeds, and Branches Of the Sellers of Trees, &c. Of the Quantity of Shrubs, 'Roots,' Flowers, Etc., Sold in the Streets, and of the Buyers Of the Street Sale of Trees and Shrubs The London Flower Girls Of Two Orphan Flower Girls Of the Life of a Flower Girl Of the Street Sale of Lavender Cut Flowers Of the Street Sale of Flowers in Pots, Roots, Etc. Of the Street Sale of Seeds Of Christmasing-- Laurel, Ivy, Holly, and Mistletoe Of the Sale of May, Palm, Etc
	Street-Sellers of Green Stuff Street-Sellers of Green Stuff Of Watercress-Selling, in Farringdon Market Of the Street-Sellers of Water-Cress Watercress Girl Of Groundsel and Chickweed Sellers Of Turf Cutting and Selling Of the Experience and Customers of A Turf-Cutter Of Plantain-Sellers
	Of the Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Of the Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Of the Street-Sellers of Pea-Soup and Hot Eels Of the Experience of a Hot-Eel and Pea-Soup Man Of the Street-Sellers of Pickled Whelks Of the Customers, Etc., of Pickled Whelk-Sellers Of the Street Sellers, and of the Preparation of Fried Fish Of the Experience of a Fried Fish- Seller, and of the Class of Customers Of the Preparation and Quantity of Sheep's Trotters, and of the Street-Sellers Statements of Sheep's Trotter Women Of the Street Trade in Baked Potatoes Of 'Trotting,' or 'Hawking' Butchers Of the Experience of a Hawking Butcher Of the Street-Sellers of Ham-Sandwiches Of the Experience of a Ham Sandwich- Seller Of the Street-Sellers of Bread Of the Street-Sellers of Hot Green Peas Of the Experience of a Hot Green Pea Seller Of Cats' and Dogs'--Meat Dealers Of the Street-Sale of Drinkables Of Coffee-Stall Keepers Of the Street Sale of Ginger-Beer, Sherbet, Lemonade, &c Of the Experience and Customers of A Ginger-Beer Seller Of the Street-Sellers of Hot Elder Wine Of the Street Sale of Peppermint-Water Of Milk Selling in St. James's Park Of the Street Sale of Milk Of the Street-Sale of Curds and Whey Of the Street-Sellers of Rice-Milk Of Water-Carriers Of the Street-Sellers of Pastry and Confectionary Of Street Piemen Of the Street-Sellers of Boiled Puddings Of the Street-Sellers of Plum 'Duff' or Dough Of the Street-Sellers of Cakes, Tarts, &c. Of Other Cake-Sellers in the Streets Of the Street-Sellers of Gingerbread- Nuts, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Hot-Cross Buns, and of Chelsea Buns Of Muffin and Crumpet-Selling in the Streets Of the Street Sale of Sweet-Stuff Of the Customers of the Sweet-Stuff Street-Sellers Of the Street-Sellers of Cough Drops and of Medical Confectionary 'Lohoch de farfara,' the Lohoch of Coltsfoot Of the Street-Sellers of Ices and of Ice Creams Of the Capital and Income of the Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Capital, or Stock in Trade, of the Street- Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables Income, or 'Takings,' of Street-Sellers of Eatables and Drinkables
	Of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature, and the Fine Arts Of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, &c. Of the Former and Present Street- Patterers Of the Habits, Opinions, Morals, and Religion of Patterers Generally Of the Publishers and authors of Street-Literature Of Long Song-Sellers Of Running Patterers Experience of a Running Patterer Of the Recent Experience of a Running Patterer Of the Chaunters Of the Experience of a Chaunter Of the Death and Fire Hunters Of the Sellers of Second Editions Of the Standing Patterers Experience of a Standing Patterer Of Political Litanies, Dialogues, etc. Of 'Cocks,' Etc. Of 'Strawing' Of the Sham indecent Street-Trade Of Religious Tract Sellers Of a Benefit Society of Patterers Of the Abodes, Tricks, Marriage, Character, and Characteristics of the Different Grades of Patterers Of the Low Lodging-Houses of London Of the Filth, Dishonesty, and Immorality of Low Lodging-Houses Of the Children in Low Lodging- Houses Of the Low Lodging-Houses Throughout the Country Of the Street Stationers, and the Street Card-Sellers Of the Seller of the Penny Short-Hand Cards The Lecture 'I perish with hunger' Of the Sellers of Race Cards and Lists Of the Street-Sellers of Gelatine, of Engraved, and of Playing Cards, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Stationery Of the Experience of a Street- Stationer Of a 'Reduced' Gentlewoman, and a 'Reduced' Tradesman, as Street-Sellers of Stationery Of the Street-Sale of Memorandum- Books and Almanacks Of the Street-Sale of Pocket-Books and Diaries Of the Street-Sellers of Songs Of the Street 'Pinners-up,' or Wall Song-Sellers Of Ancient and Modern Street Ballad Minstrelsy Of Street 'Ballads on a Subject' Of the Street Poets and Authors Of the Experience of a Street Author, or Poet Of the Street-Sellers of Broad-Sheets Of the 'Gallows' Literature of the Streets Of the Street-Sellers of Conundrums Of the Street-Sellers of Comic Exhibitions, Magical Delusions, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Play-Bills Of the Street-Sellers of Periodicals, Pamphlets, Tracts, Books, Etc. Of the Street-Sale of Back Numbers Of the Sale of Waste Newspapers at Billingsgate Of the Sale of Periodicals on the Steam- Boats and Steam-Boat Piers Of the Sale of Newspapers, Books, &c., at the Railway Stations Of the Street Booksellers Of the Character of Books of the Street-Sale Of the Experience of a Street Book- Seller Of Street Book-Auctioneers Of the Street-Sale of Song-Books, and of Children's Books Of the Street-Sellers of Account-Books Of the Street-Sellers of Guide-Books, &c. Of the Street-Sellers of Fine Arts Of Street Art Of the Street-Sellers of Engravings, Etc., in Umbrellas, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Pictures in Frames Of the Street-Sellers of Manuscript and Other Music Of the Capital and Income of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature, and the Fine Arts Capital or Value of the Stock-in-Trade of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature and the Fine Arts Income, or Average Annual 'Takings,' of the Street-Sellers of Stationery, Literature, and the Fine Arts An Epitome of the Pattering Class Of the 'Screevers,' or Writers of Begging-Letters and Petitions 'God Save the Queen' Of the Probable Means of Reformation
	Of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles Of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles Of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles in Metal Of the Cheap Johns, or Street Han- Sellers 'The Original Cheap John' The Crippled Street-Seller of Nut- Meg-Graters Of the Swag-Shops of the Metropolis Shopkeepers and Dealers Supplied with the Following Articles -- Of the Life of a Cheap-John The Street-Sellers of Cutlery Of the Blind Street-Sellers of Tailors' Needles, etc. The Public-House Hawkers of Metal Spoons, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Jewellery Of the Pedlar-Jewellers Of the Street-Sellers of Card-Counters, Medals, Etc. The Construction is of Iron and of Glass, 1848 Feet Long. about Half is 456 Wide. the Remainder 408 Feet Wide, and 66 Feet High; Site, Upwards of 20 acres. Josh. Paxton, archt. Of the Street-Sellers of Rings and Sovereigns For Wagers Of the Street-Sellers of Children's Gilt Watches Of the Street-Sellers of Tinware Of the Life of a Tin-Ware Seller Of the Street-Sellers of Dog-Collars Of the Life of a Street-Seller of Dog- Collars Of the Street-Sellers of Tools Of the Beggar Street-Sellers Pike's Patent Cotton. 120 Yards 'The Lace-Makers' Appeal' 'ALLEN, Printer, Long-row, Nottingham' Of the 'House of Lords,' a Street-Seller's Defunct Club Of the Street-Sellers of Crockery and Glass-Wares Of the 'Swag,' Crockery, and Glass Shops Of the Street-Sellers of Spar and China Ornaments, and of Stone Fruit Of the Street-Sellers of Textile Fabrics Of the Haberdashery Swag-Shops Of Hawkers, Pedlars, and Petty Chapmen Of the Packmen, or Hawkers of Soft Wares Statement of a Packman Of the Tally Packman Of the 'Duffers' or Hawkers of Pretended Smuggled Goods Of the Street-Sellers of 'Small-Ware,' or Tape, Cotton, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Lace Of the Street-Sellers of Japanned Table- Covers Of the Street-Sellers of Braces, Belts, Hose, Trowser-Straps, and Waistcoats Of the Street-Sellers of Boot and Stay- Laces, &c. Of a Blind Female Seller of 'Small-Wares' The Blind Street-Seller of Boot-Laces Of the Life of a Blind Boot-Lace Seller Of the Low Lodging-Houses Statement of a Young Pickpocket Statement of a Prostitute Statement of a Beggar Meeting of Thieves Of the Country Lodging-Houses Of the Street-Sellers of Chemical Articles of Manufacture Of the Street-Sellers of Blacking, Black Lead, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of French Polish Of the Street-Sellers of Grease-Removing Compositions Of the Street-Sellers of Corn-Salve Of the Street-Sellers of Glass and China Cement, and of Razor Paste Of the Street-Seller of Crackers and Detonating Balls Of the Street-Sellers of Lucifer-Matches Of the Street-Sellers of Cigar Lights, or Fuzees Of the Street-Sellers of Gutta-Percha Heads Of the Street-Sellers of Fly-Papers and Beetle-Wafers Of the Street-Sellers of Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles Of the Street-Sellers of Walking-Sticks Of the Street-Sellers of Whips, Etc. Of the Street-Sellers of Pipes, and of Snuff and Tobacco Boxes Of the Street-Sellers of Cigars Of the Street-Sellers of Sponge Of the Street-Sellers of Wash-Leathers Of the Street-Sellers of Spectacles and Eye-Glasses Of the Street-Sellers of Dolls Of the 'Swag-Barrowmen,' and 'Lot- Sellers' Of the Street-Sellers of Roulette Boxes Of the Street-Sellers of Poison For Rats Of the Street-Sellers of Rhubarb and Spice Of the Hawking of Tea
	Of the Women Street-Sellers Of the Women Street-Sellers Of a Single Woman, as a Street-Seller Of a Mechanic's Wife, as a Street-Seller Of an Irishwoman, as a Street-Seller Of a Widow, a Street-Seller
	Of the Children Street-Sellers of London Of the Children Street-Sellers of London Of Children Sent Out as Street-Sellers by their Parents Of a 'Neglected' Child, a Street-Seller Of a Hired Coster Boy Of an Orphan Boy, a Street-Seller Of the Life of an Orphan Girl, a Street- Seller Of Two Runaway Street-Boys Of the Capital and Income of the Street-Sellers of Manufactured Articles
	Index