from various parts of the country, held a kind of efficiency competition at the Lower Grounds, and being something new in it attracted many.  The Birmingham brigade were kept at home, possibly on account of the anniversary of the Digbeth fire.  Balsall Heath and Harborne are also supplied with their own brigades, and an Association of Midland Brigades has lately been formed which held their first drill in the Priory, April 28, 1883.

Fire Engines.—­In 1839 the Birmingham Fire Office had two engines, very handsome specimens of the article too, being profusely decorated with wooden battle axes, iron scroll-work, &c.  One of these engines was painted in many colours; but the other a plain drab, the latter it was laughingly said, being kept for the Society of Friends, the former for society at large.  The first time a “portable” or hand engine was used here was on the occurrence of a fire in a tobacconist’s shop in Cheapside Oct. 29, 1850.  The steam fire engine was brought here in Oct. 1877.—­See “Fire Engine Stations” under “Public Buildings.”

Fire Grates.—­The first oven grate used in this district was introduced in a house at “the City of Nineveh” about the year 1818, and created quite a sensation.

Fire Insurance Companies.—­The Birmingham dates its establishment from March 1805.  All the companies now in existence are more or less represented here by agents, and no one need be uninsured long, as their offices are so thick on the ground round Bennet’s Hill and Colmore Row, that it has been seriously suggested the latter thoroughfare should he rechristened and be called Insurance Street.  It was an agent who had the assurance to propose the change.

Fish.—­In April, 1838, a local company was floated for the purpose of bringing fish from London and Liverpool.  It began swimmingly, but fish didn’t swim to Birmingham, and though several other attempts have been made to form companies of similar character, the trade has been kept altogether in private hands, and to judge from the sparkling rings to be seen on the hands of the ladies who condescend to sell us our matutinal bloaters in the Market Hall, the business is a pretty good one—­and who dare say those dames de salle are not also pretty and good?  The supply of fish to this town, as given by the late Mr. Hanman, averaged from 50 to 200 tons per day (one day in June, 1879, 238 tons came from Grimsby alone) or, each in its proper season, nearly as follows:—­Mackerel, 2,000 boxes of about 2 cwt. each; herrings, 2,000 barrels of 1-1/2 cwt. each; salmon, 400 boxes of 2-1/2 cwt. each; lobsters, 15 to 20 barrels of 1 cwt. each; crabs, 50 to 60 barrels of 1-1/4 cwt. each; plaice, 1,500 packages of 2 cwt. each; codfish, 200 barrels of 2 cwt. each; conger eels, 20 barrels of 2 cwt. each; skate, 10 to 20 barrels of 2 cwt. each.—­See “Markets.”