Fishing from the earliest times - Blog

PRICES IN ROME, LONDON, AND AMERICA 287of many persons the law was repealed from necessity."Sixtyyears later the Emperor Julian made a similar but smallerattempt to control prices,but the corn speculators of Antiochso entirely worsted him that he had to acknowledge defeat.By the courtesy of the Secretary of the Fishmongers'Company I was furnished, with some average wholesale pricesfor 1 913, the last year unaffected by the war. The consumer,it must be remembered, is compelled, in general, to pay theretailer one-third per lb. more to defray handling, rent, etc.The following sea fish were sold in London, per lb., asfollows : Cod for 4, Turbot for 9I, Mullet [Mugil capito) for 11,Sole for 17 pence. In the Edict the price of fresh sea fishis lumped at from 4| to 7 pence, so we have no datum forcomparison of individual prices. In the case of the Mugilcapito, however, we are enabled to contrast its price, i.e. 11pence, with that in Egypt, c. 1200 B.C., i.e. .^^^ of a penny. 1A comparison with America in 1906 shows that the averageprice of fresh sea fish was from 4^. to yd. per lb., or practicallythe same as in Diocletian's time, while that of river fishfresh—perlb. was 6 to 7* as against 3f pence in the Edict.2Salt fish, per lb. in 301 a.d. cost 4^^., in U.S.A. 4^. to jld.Oysters (by the 100), is. lod., (in London) 4/- to 14/-.The figures show that prices of other commodities in theEdict vary extremely, but for sea fish are not far apart.From the articles of raw material and manufactured wares,which number in the Edict over eight hundred, and from thewages, etc., I subjoin some items and prices on account of theirgeneral interest. 3Price in—Wheat per bushelBeef per lb.ButterEggs, per doz. .^See p. 337, postea.* The lower price of river as compared with sea fish seems additionalevidence that the preference for the latter, well attested in the earher daysof Athens and of Rome, still continued.^ From p. 1 74 ff . of Abbott, who gives the prices in cents.