Billingsgate - landing the fish

An illustration of Billingsgate market from 'London: a Pilgrimage' by Blanchard Jerrold and Gustave Doré, 1872. Jerrold describes the 'picturesque tumults' of Billingsgate: 'The grey chilly morning; the river background with masts packed close as arrows in a quiver; the lapping of the tide; the thuds of the paddles of hardly perceptible steamers; the tiers of fish boats rich in outline and in accidental shades and tints; and then the varieties of shouting, whistling, singing and swearing men, who are landing insatiable London's first course (first and last to many thousands); the deafening vociferation, where the fish auctions are going on in the steamy open shops of the salesmen; the superb confusion and glistening of the mounds which the porters are casting into the market from the boats! It is well worth the chilly journey through the silent streets, to see'.