Afishmonger (historicallyfishwife for female practitioners) is someone who sells rawfish andseafood. Fishmongers can bewholesalers orretailers, and are trained at selecting and purchasing, handling, gutting, boning,filleting, displaying, merchandising and selling their product. In some countries, modernsupermarkets are replacing fishmongers who operate in shops orfish markets.
The fishmongersguild, one of the earliest guilds, was established in theCity of London by aRoyal Charter granted byEdward I shortly after he became king in 1272. Partnership with foreigners was forbidden and the sale of fish was tightly controlled to ensure freshness and restrain profit, which was limited to one penny in theshilling. Nevertheless, the guild grew rich and, after Edward's victory over the Scots, was able to make a great show, including one thousand mountedknights.[1]
During the reign ofEdward II, the political power of the fishmongers waned, andParliament decreed that no fishmonger could becomemayor of the city. This was soon rescinded, and their wealth increased further so that, during the reign ofEdward III, the guild could provide £40 to the war against the French, this being a great sum at that time.[1]
The guild was then reformed byGreat Charter as theMystery of the Fishmongers of London. They were given amonopoly over the buying and selling of fish, and they regulated the catching of fish in theThames, which teemed with fish such assalmon at that time.[1] The guild still continues today as one of theGreat Twelve City Livery Companies.
The tools used by fishmongers include:[2]
In many countries, the fishwife was proverbial for her sharp tongue and outspokenness. InMedieval France, the ones inParis were known for their special privilege of being able to speak frankly to the King himself, when he ventured into the marketplace, and voice criticism without fear of punishment.
Molly Malone is a character from a popular Irish song about a young fishwife who tragically dies at a young age.
Charles Fort in his bookLo! compiles the story of the Mad Fishmonger or "St. Fishmonger", which later may or may not appear in theSchrödinger's Cat Trilogy byRobert Anton Wilson. St. Fishmonger allegedly caused crabs and periwinkles to fall from the sky.
In the English translation of theAsterix series, the village fishmonger is called Unhygienix. In the filmThe Beach, the Island's chef has only fish as a source of meat, and is named Unhygienix in reference to the Asterix character.
InShakespeare'sHamlet, some contend that the wordfishmonger was aeuphemism for a "fleshmonger," orpimp.[3][4][5]
Fishing industry topics | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
