ll some years after the great Exhibition of 1851 that
attention was given to this special department of industry and commerce.
At Boulogne, Havre, and other maritime places, there were local
expositions; but the first international exhibition on a large scale was
that of Berlin in 1880. Norwich was the first town in England to follow
the Continental example. The local character of the undertaking soon
expanded into a national enterprise, the Corporation of London and the
Fishmongers' Company lending their influence. Chiefly through the agency
of Mr. Birkbeck, one of the Norfolk County members, the official
sanction of the Government was obtained, with permission to grant medals
and diplomas of merit, as in other national exhibitions. The Prince of
Wales took a lively interest in the success of this Norwich project, and
he secured the co-operation of Mr. Birkbeck for holding an International
Exhibition in London.

In July 1881 a meeting was held at the Hall of the Fishmongers' Company,
when a formal resolution was passed for carrying out the proposal, and a
Committee formed for arranging the general plan of the Exhibition. In
February 1882 a second meeting was held at Willis's Rooms, when the Duke
of Richmond read the report of the proceedings of the Committee formed
in the previous year. The sanction of the Queen was obtained as Patron,
and the Prince of Wales as President, the Duke of Edinburgh and the
other Royal Dukes being named Vice-Presidents, with the Duke of Richmond
as Chairman of the General Committee. The sentiments and motives of the
promoters of the undertaking were well expressed in words spoken by the
Prince of Wales at the inaugural banquet at Norwich. He said:--

"It is particularly gratifying to see that at last an interest
is being taken not only in our fisheries, but in our fishermen,
whose lives are so frequently exposed to risk through the
severity of weather and the dangerous character of the Eastern
coast. Among a very interesting display of specimens, I
especially observed the apparatus for saving life, and a variety
of models of lifeboats, which cannot fail to bring before the
public generally their duty in regard to the protection of the
fishing interests of our country. Whilst thinking over the
probable results that may attend this Exhibition, I could not
fail to reflect upon the labour it has cost more minds than one;
and I do trust, having re