# How to Sell Fish explained — The Maid of Sker

> Chapter companion for The Maid of Sker by R. D. Blackmore.

## What happens

Davy Llewellyn, burdened by the events of the previous night and the need to sell his catch, employs clever salesmanship and questionable tactics to market his fish. He encounters Hezekiah Perkins at Bridgend, and through a feigned disinterest and a fabricated higher offer from a rival, he successfully sells his remaining stock to Hezekiah at a favorable price. The chapter also details Davy's methods for freshening the appearance of older fish, including using ray spines to prop up the eyes, and his reflections on the public's gullibility.

## Themes in this chapter

### Morality and Hypocrisy

Davy's deceptive methods for selling fish, such as propping up eyes with ray spines, highlight the moral compromises made for profit, while he justifies his actions as necessary in a dishonest trade.

### Class Mobility and Ambition

Davy's determination to sell his fish at a good price and his pride in his salesmanship reflect his ambition to improve his station through cleverness and hard work.

## Character check-ins

### Davy Llewellyn

The narrator and fish seller, who uses cunning and deceptive practices to sell his fish, reflecting on his skills and the public's ignorance.

### Hezekiah Perkins

A rival buyer who is tricked by Davy into paying a higher price for the fish, motivated by his desire to outdo Griffy of the Cat and Snuffers.

### Bardie

Mentioned as being in the midst of disasters, causing Davy's heart to be sore and heavy.

### Moxy Thomas

Davy's ancient sweetheart, whose memory troubles him as he goes about his business.

## Key lines

> What, Davy! Brother Davy! Has it been so ordered that I behold good brother Davy with fish upon a Monday?

Hezekiah greets Davy with feigned surprise, hinting that selling fish on a Monday might be a Sabbath violation.

_Hezekiah attempts to use religious scruples to lower the price._

> I saw my way to sell him more, upon the following basket-day, by saying what good people said, and how much I myself had seen of it.

Davy plans to use local gossip about the 'burning tide' to justify the quality of his fish and encourage future sales.

_Davy exploits superstition for commercial gain._

> Then open the mouth of your languid fish and embolden the aspect of either eye by fetching it up from despondency with a skewer of proper length extended from one ball to the other.

To make a stale fish look fresher, Davy inserts a ray spine through the head to prop up the eyes.

_A detailed description of Davy's deceptive technique._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters/xii-how-to-sell-fish
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_maid_of_sker_se/chapters