Fish Days.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 201, 30 April 1887, Page 6

Fish Days.

The season of Lent (says the London Globe) is hailed with' delight by fishmongers in general, not so much in 'this country as abroad, where Roman Catholicism more generally prevails. Still, in England, Lent undeniably makes a vast difference to the fish monger's trade, for there are plenty of fishlovers in this country who atthis season give up eating meat, at least on one day in every week, and generally on two days. Possibly, this practice may be a survival of the custom of setting apart two days a week, not in Lent only, but throughout the year, as " fish days ;" the arrival of Lent calling to mind an observance which is forgotten at other seasons of the year. After the Reformation, Saturday continued to be observed as a fast-day ; but to encourage the fishing industry of this country by inducing] " the more comon eatinge of fishe," Parliament, in the fifth year of Elizabeth, enacted that thenceforth " every Wednesday in every weeke throughout the whole yere, which heretofore hath not by the lawes and customes of this Realme beene used and observed as a faste day" (excepting the Wednesdays in Christmas and Easter weeks) should bekept and observed "as Saturdayes in every week be, or ought to be," that is to say, that " no manner of person " should eat " fiesshe" on that day. The penalty for each offence was fixed at £3, or in default three mouths' " close imprisonment ;" while householders who did not inform against trangressors in their households were liable to a penalty of £3. The fine, when inflicted, was to be divided into three parts, one part to go to the Queen, one to the informer, and a third to the parish in which the offence was committed. Exemption from the Act was to be had by paying for it, the price varying according to the social station of the applicant. " Everye person of the degree of a Lord of Parleament or their wyves " might obtain a license of exemption by paying to the " Poore men's box "' 265. Bd, Knights and their ladies had to pay half that sum, and those of a lesser degree only 6s. Bd. ; the licenses lasted but one year. Sick persons were, of course, exempt from these regulations, and certificates of sickness were to oe obtained from the parsons of the different parishes. Any possible doubt as to the purely secular motives which prompted the Elizabethan Parliamentto pass thisActare'removedby theproviso inrit which allows the appearance actable on Wednesdays of " oneonely competent dissheof fiesshe and no more," on the condition that at the same meal were served at least three courses of fish. And the Act concludes, " because no manner of persons shall misjudge thintente of this estatute," or forbear eating flesh except as a matter of polity, by encouraging the demand for fish, " Bee it enacted, that whosoever shall be preaching, teaching, or writing, or who in open speach notify that any eating of fisshe or forbearing of flesshe is of any necessity for the saving of the soule of man or that it is the service of God," such persons shall be punished as " spreaders of faulsenewes." Among the numerous indictments for offences under this Act was one against a certain Hugh Morryff, of i* Higfieholborne," who on a Wednesday cooked a " legge of mutton " at his dwelling house, wnich joint was afterwards " fcheare eaten by divers persons." Hugh's punlehment fe not recorded y perhaps he was finally acquitted of the charge. .

W-e get a carious glimpse of the feelings with which the observance of fish days and fast days'during Lent was viewed in the time/ of Charles I. by the speech which the Lord Keeper delivered to the judges starting on the summer assizes in 1632. Disregard of both these observances was doubtlessly prevalent, and the Lord Keeper says "thattouchin those," the King will forthwith give " his laste warnings by his Proclamation." He then goes on to deal with the various excuses made by transgressors: " some pretend that one meate is not holier than an other, and Mine that their stomack will not endure Ush ; but these delicatelyconstituted persons," says the Lord Keeper, " can sitt all day long at sack and tobacco. " Some of them were justices of the peace, and these " must needs drink tobacco on the bench ;" but the Lord Keeper adds that if they continue to offend, " they shall not sitt upon the bench anymore. " Agood many people pretended that there was not fish enough for all to keep these fish days ; to this the Lord Keeper answer^, " the scarcitie of fish commeth by the discouragement of fishermen. The King, thercforo, hath verie providentlie sett out this proclamation at .this time that men may not pretend shortness of warning, but have fitt time to furnish themselves; and the fishermen to provide that there may be plentie. " Residence in London, and the overcrowding of the City by those who were charmed thither by its evils, were regarded with great distaste by the austere judge, and so he ended up his remarks on observing fish days with this warning: "The unsufferable resort and residence of multitudes to the City of London hath heretofore been one means to make fish scarcer. This is intended to be remedied, and commandment shall be given to the Lord Maior and Aldermen that they shall see the fishmongers sell at reasonable prices ; therefore your lordshipps are to give a strict chardge and warning that offenders against these good lawes and proclamations shall be strictly dealt with."