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25
FISH CUEING.
The fish, curers have been frequently visited by the Sanitary
Committee, and there is some improvement in the condition of their
premises; but many of these people are so wretchedly poor that they
are quite unable to obey our requirements, so that we have to be
satisfied with what we can get done. Of course we cannot expect
landlords to carry out works required for trade purposes.
We have received numerous and repeated complaints from the
inhabitants of the districts where these fish curers carry on their
business, of nuisance arising through improper storage of fish offal,
and also through the method of conveying this offal through the public
streets. It seems that the men who collect this material dispose of it
to Mr. J. F. Johnson, of Bow Common lane, who converts it into
manure. The men employ ordinary vans, and use a number of open
tubs, to convey the offal, which stinks abominably.
Mr. Johnson, in his endeavour to mitigate the nuisance, has had
constructed a number of most-admirably arranged air-tight tank vans,
one of which was inspected and approved by the Sanitary Committee.
He has also provided properly-covered galvanized iron vessels for
storing the offal while it remains upon the premises of the fish curers.
The Yestry have sanctioned and approved Mr. Johnson's proposal,
to undertake the work necessary to abate, so far as possible, the
nuisance, and to secure the prompt and efficient removal of fish offal
and trade refuse of a similar nature in these air-tight tank vans.
Accordingly, every fish dealer in the parish has been supplied with,
and desired to use, these air-tight iron receptacles, and Mr. Johnson's
vans call every day to collect and remove the contents.
These vans have been at work some months: they are clean, and
cause no nuisance; but, unfortunately, the men who have been in
the habit of removing the offal for years past still carry on their
business in the old way (which is a very bad one), and there is great
difficulty in bringing them to book, as the nuisance is created in the
public thoroughfares, and not upon the premises of the fish curers.
Mr. Yoss is of opinion that we can only proceed by indictment, which
is a troublesome and expensive process.+