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43
SANITARY INSPECTION.
In Table E is shown a comparison for the eight years ending 31st
December, 1901, between the total number of vessels entered in the Port of
London, Foreign and Coastwise, steam and sail, as published in the Annual
Statement of Navigation and Shipping issued by the Board of Trade, and the
annual total number of inspections of vessels by your Inspectors since the
year 1895.
I have prepared this Table, inasmuch as it has been stated that " Coastwise "
vessels arriving in the Port of London do not receive a proper amount of
inspection.
Though much remains to be done in the way of sanitary details for the
improvement of this class of vessel, it will be clear, on a perusal of the
Table, that since comparative figures have been recorded, all vessels arriving
" Coastwise " are accounted for in the inspections.
Previous to the year 1898 practically all sailing craft from below Gravesend
were entered at the Custom House as " Coastwise " arrivals. This had the result
of considerably inflating the annual number of " Coastwise " arrivals, the fact
being, that a large proportion of such entries were " inland navigation " and
not bond fide " Coastwise" traders. This was realised by His Majesty's
Customs, with the result that this class was further defined as shown by the
note appended to the Table. As affecting the return of " Coastwise " vessels
by your Officers, the result is remarkable. Whereas, previously to the year
1898, the proportion of inspections to entries did not appear to be more than
about one-third, since the amendment of the definition of " Coastwise " traders,
the number of inspections exceeds the number of entries in a substantial
degree. The excess of inspections over entries being due, of course, to the
inclusion of barges as " Coastwise " by your Inspectors, and to the fact that
the same vessels would in many instances be visited by more than one
Inspector, as the vessel moved from one part of the Port to another.
I am of opinion that the figures show the inspection of " Coastwise"
vessels to be satisfactorily carried out as regards numbers, although, as I have
stated, there is still a considerable amount of work to be done in the direction
of sanitation as applied to this class of vessel.
In this connection I would refer you to the special Report made by me on
" Canal Boats," included in this Annual Report.
Table A shows that the total number of vessels inspected by your Officers
during 1902 is a substantial advance upon the mean for the preceding five years.
The total number of nuisances reported and dealt with, including those
involving structural alterations, also shows an increase. The average annual
number of the preceding five years (see Table A) was 707'8. During 1902
the total was 1,187. The average annual number of Notices issued during
the five years was 52'8. The number of Notices issued during 1902 was 285.
The total number of nuisances abated, including structural alterations, is
also above the mean of the five previous years.
In twelve cases only were legal proceedings necessary in order to enforce
compliance with the requirements of the Authority. (See Appendix S.)