Thursday 18 October 2012

E.W. Little of Baker Street

Once upon a time in Arcadia, most notably on a Thursday in the year 1910, ladies and gentlemen in search of a Practical Naturalist might hail a cab and be heard to say 'Baker Street'.  Once there they could present their specimen fish for preservation to E.W. Little whose premises were at 65 York Street, Baker Street, W.  Little was a stickler however, and he insisted that all specimens should be well washed in dilute Carbolic Acid (2ozs to 1 gall. of water), wrapped in a cloth saturated with same and forwarded as soon as possible.  He also insisted that note should be made of colouring when caught, or other peculiarities.

Today in Arcadia, ladies and gentlemen in search of a Practical Naturalist are still at liberty to hail a cab and say 'Baker Street' but they would be much better advised to say 'Commercial Street' and visit me at my stall on Spitalfields Antiques Market where, as someone who sells Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul on Thursdays only I also carry examples of original taxidermy some of it dating back as far as the year 1910.