Victorian London - Crime - Beggars and Vagrants - pavement chalkers 

"That's Tom, the salmon-chalker, as does them drawrings in the street, and a precious lot o'money he makes by 'em: and this is 'ow he does it: Tom knows all the pavements in London, makes his pictures in the morning, rents 'em to the knowingest cadgers as works 'em in the day, and then goes an' rubs 'em out at night." 'Has he no rivals?" we  venture to ask. "Of course he has, lots! but they arn't no good; and Tom wouldn't give a lesson at no price, and so keeps at the top o' the purfession."

Watts Phillips, The Wild Tribes of London, 1855