A fishmonger (historically fishwife for female practitioners) is someone who sells raw fish and seafood. Fishmongers can be wholesalers or retailers and are trained at selecting and purchasing, handling, gutting, boning, filleting, displaying, merchandising and selling their product. In some countries modern supermarkets are replacing fishmongers who operate in shops or fish markets.
The fishmongers guild, one of the earliest guilds, was established in the City of London by a Royal Charter granted by Edward 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 the shilling. Nevertheless, the guild grew rich and, after Edward's victory over the Scots, was able to make a great show, including one thousand mounted knights.[1]
During the reign of Edward II, the political power of the fishmongers waned and Parliament decreed that no fishmonger could become mayor of the city. This was soon rescinded and their wealth increased further so that, during the reign of Edward III, the guild could provide £40 to the war against the French, this being a great sum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 by Great Charter as the Mystery of the Fishmongers of London. They were given a monopoly over the crying and selling of fish and they regulated the catching of fish in the Thames which teemed with fish such as salmon at that time.[1] The guild still continues today as one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies.
Toolsedit
A fishmonger prepares to clean and butcher a pair of large fish in Malé.
In many countries, the fishwife was proverbial for her sharp tongue and outspokenness. In Medieval France, the ones in Paris 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 book Lo! compiles the story of the Mad Fishmonger or "St. Fishmonger", which later may or may not appear in the Schrödinger's Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson. St. Fishmonger allegedly caused crabs and periwinkles to fall from the sky.
In the English translation of the Asterix series, the village fishmonger is called Unhygienix. In the film The Beach, the Island's chef has only fish as a source of meat, and is named Unhygienix in reference to the Asterix character.
^ abcJohn Timbs (1865), "Curiosities of the Fishmongers' Hall", Walks and talks about London, Lockwood
^Green, Aliza (January 2011), "A few good tools", The Fishmonger's Apprentice, p. 19, ISBN9781610594707
^Steve Roth, Hamlet: The Undiscovered Country, 2009
^Hamlet's Puns and Paradoxes 2007-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, Click Notes
^Shaaber MA (1971) "Polonius as Fishmonger" Shakespeare Quarterly, 22 (2).
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fishmongers.
Hamlet's Puns and Paradoxes
January 19, 2024
fishmonger, fishmonger, historically, fishwife, female, practitioners, someone, sells, fish, seafood, wholesalers, retailers, trained, selecting, purchasing, handling, gutting, boning, filleting, displaying, merchandising, selling, their, product, some, countr. A fishmonger historically fishwife for female practitioners is someone who sells raw fish and seafood Fishmongers can be wholesalers or retailers and are trained at selecting and purchasing handling gutting boning filleting displaying merchandising and selling their product In some countries modern supermarkets are replacing fishmongers who operate in shops or fish markets A fishmonger in Pike Place Market on the waterfront of Seattle Contents 1 Worshipful Company of Fishmongers 2 Tools 3 Fishmongers in culture 4 Historic fishmongers 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksWorshipful Company of Fishmongers edit nbsp A 16th century fishmongers stall Bartolomeo Passarotti Main article Worshipful Company of Fishmongers The fishmongers guild one of the earliest guilds was established in the City of London by a Royal Charter granted by Edward 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 the shilling Nevertheless the guild grew rich and after Edward s victory over the Scots was able to make a great show including one thousand mounted knights 1 During the reign of Edward II the political power of the fishmongers waned and Parliament decreed that no fishmonger could become mayor of the city This was soon rescinded and their wealth increased further so that during the reign of Edward 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 by Great Charter as the Mystery of the Fishmongers of London They were given a monopoly over the crying and selling of fish and they regulated the catching of fish in the Thames which teemed with fish such as salmon at that time 1 The guild still continues today as one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies Tools edit nbsp A fishmonger prepares to clean and butcher a pair of large fish in Male The tools used by fishmongers include 2 Pliers to pull out pinbones A fish scaler to remove scales A filleting knife to cut away the flesh from the bones Short strong knives for opening oysters and other shellfish Protective gloves A curved knife for gutting and removing roeFishmongers in culture edit nbsp The fishwife Molly Malone of Cockles and Mussels fame In many countries the fishwife was proverbial for her sharp tongue and outspokenness In Medieval France the ones in Paris 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 book Lo compiles the story of the Mad Fishmonger or St Fishmonger which later may or may not appear in the Schrodinger s Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson St Fishmonger allegedly caused crabs and periwinkles to fall from the sky In the English translation of the Asterix series the village fishmonger is called Unhygienix In the film The Beach the Island s chef has only fish as a source of meat and is named Unhygienix in reference to the Asterix character In Shakespeare s Hamlet some contend that the word fishmonger was a euphemism for a fleshmonger or pimp 3 4 5 Historic fishmongers editMarretje Arents Dolly Peel Dolly Pentreath the last native speaker of Cornish Bartolomeo Vanzetti Italian anarchist executed in 1927 following a controversial American trial Muhammad Shahid NazirGallery edit nbsp A 16th century Flemish fishmonger painted by Joachim Beuckelaer nbsp The Fishmonger By Frans Snyders 1579 1657 nbsp Fishmonger s Stall by Adriaen van Utrecht 1599 1652 nbsp The fishmonger by Jan Ludewick Wouters 1599 1663 nbsp Crying fish in Spain by Henry Herbert La Thangue 1859 1929 nbsp Fish seller 1930 By Gyula Derkovits 1894 1934 References edit a b c John Timbs 1865 Curiosities of the Fishmongers Hall Walks and talks about London Lockwood Green Aliza January 2011 A few good tools The Fishmonger s Apprentice p 19 ISBN 9781610594707 Steve Roth Hamlet The Undiscovered Country 2009 Hamlet s Puns and Paradoxes Archived 2007 06 13 at the Wayback Machine Click Notes Shaaber MA 1971 Polonius as Fishmonger Shakespeare Quarterly 22 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fishmongers Hamlet s Puns and Paradoxes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fishmonger amp oldid 1186877251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
