The Price of Fish

At the home of a wealthy man in New Zealand, preparations were underway for his son’s wedding. He was a refined, generous-hearted gentleman, courteous to everyone, regardless of status. For his only son’s wedding, he decided to invite acquaintances of all ranks, both high and low, and to celebrate the occasion with great pomp. Invitations were sent far and wide to friends and associates.

Several days before the wedding, the arrangements for feeding the guests began. There was plenty of food prepared. However, on the day before the wedding, a storm raged all day and night, and no fish could be obtained. The next morning, cooking began for the invited guests, but the host was deeply troubled that no fish was available for such an auspicious day.

Just then, one of his servants came in to say that a fisherman was outside with a large catch of fish for sale. The gentleman immediately ordered that the fisherman be brought in with the fish.

When the fisherman arrived, the gentleman was overjoyed. “Ah! You have come at just the right time! On this joyous day, I was so upset about not having fish. Name your price, and I will gladly pay it.”

The fisherman folded his hands and said, “Sir, the price for all these fish is one hundred cane strokes. That is the price I ask for my fish.”

Everyone present was astonished at such a strange demand. Seeing their surprise, the fisherman said, “Don’t be shocked. I have thought carefully about this price. Don’t think I’m mad. Please, cane me and take the fish.”

The gentleman urgently needed fish, so he agreed. To keep the fisherman’s strange bargain, he himself took up a cane and struck the man fifty times. At that point, the fisherman said, “Sir, stop. I have a partner in this business. Half the price belongs to him—he is outside. You must give him the rest of the payment.”

The gentleman laughed. “What! There’s another madman like you? Very well, tell me where he is. I’ll bring him in and give him the rest.”

The fisherman said, “Sir, my partner is none other than your gatekeeper.” The gentleman had the gatekeeper brought in and asked the fisherman to explain.

The fisherman said, “Sir, this man is terribly selfish. I am a poor man—I make my living catching fish. When I heard of the grand feast at your house, I worked very hard to get this catch, hoping to earn a little money. But your gatekeeper refused to let me sell them to you unless I promised him half the price. Only then did he agree to let me in and tell you.”

The gentleman understood everything. At once, he gave the selfish, dishonest gatekeeper fifty heavy cane strokes and threw him out of the house. Then he paid the fisherman the price of the fish along with a generous reward for his boldness, and sent him away happy.