Functions
The Company is governed by a Prime Warden, five other Wardens and a Court of 28 livery members.
Early in its existence, the Company acquired a monopoly of the sale of fish in the City of London. Today, this monopoly is no longer absolute, but under powers established by a Charter of James I in 1604, the staff of the Company (known as fishmeters) still inspect all fish imported to the City. This applies especially to Billingsgate Fish Market, the largest such market in the United Kingdom.
The Company is intimately concerned with salmon and fresh water fishing as well as shellfish throughout the waters of the United Kingdom, and it supports research and publishes books on fish, such as Fish and Shellfish and The Fishmongers' Company Cook Book. Thus, the Company continues many of its original trade duties, unlike some of the other Livery Companies which have become entirely charitable or ceremonial institutions.
The Company is also a significant educational charity. As well as Gresham's School, it has also long-supported the City and Guilds of London Art School and the City and Guilds of London Institute.
Company members number nearly 300 and continues to include a good representation of working fishmongers. Liverymen of the Company are also members of the City's Common Hall and thus can vote in the election of the Lord Mayor of the City of London each year on Michaelmas Day (29 September) or on the closest weekday, and also in the election of the Sheriffs of the City of London on every Midsummer's Day. Voting is by show of hands, but if any liveryman demands a ballot, this is to be held two weeks later.
Read more about this topic: Worshipful Company Of Fishmongers
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“Those things which now most engage the attention of men, as politics and the daily routine, are, it is true, vital functions of human society, but should be unconsciously performed, like the corresponding functions of the physical body.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)