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My attention has been engaged during the late very hot weather on the subject
of putrid fish offered for sale in Somers town and other localities. The inspector
is empowered by Act of Parliament to seize meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables
exposed for sale which he considers unfit for food; and if it appear to a Justice
that such article is unfit for the food of man he shall order it to be destroyed;
and the owner of it shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds. Acting
upon this, the Inspector for this Parish has, during the last week, seized a very
large number of mackarel and lobsters offered for sale. They were in such a
condition of putrescence that they would probably have occasioned severe illness
in any one eating them. In one case the salesman obstructed the Inspector
in the performance of his duty; in consequence of this he was given into custody,
and was, the next day, fined by the Magistrate at Clerkenwell (Mr. Corrie) for
impeding an officer in the discbarge of his duties, and was dismissed with a
warning that in case of a repetition of the offence the penalty would be much
more severe.
During the last month it has been necessary to bring cases of a different
description before a Magistrate. These have been instances of defective house
drainage, in which the owners have not attended to the preliminary notices
served on them. In each case the Magistrate has at once ordered the works to
be done, and has inflicted the payment of costs on the proprietor.
Since the 30th of May 113 written notices, relating to more than 200 houses,
have been served; of these 50 have accomplished their purpose, the required
improvements either having been completed or being now in progress. In
addition to this a large number of verbal notices have been given, which have
also very generally been attended to; and in many cases so promptly has the
nuisance complained of been removed that there has been no necessity for a
notice.