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meating and poisoning the adjoining houses." The writer of
the letter, whose statement was not quite exact, reasonably
added that "this is a very serious matter and requires
immediate attention, as during the game season the offal is very
objectionable." On this subject Inspector Abbott made a
report to me, which I submitted to the Committee, to the
following effect:—
"In consequence of the recent prosecutions undertaken by the
Chelsea Vestry for the removal of Fish Offal, &c., through the public
streets during prohibited hours, a great nuisance has been created in
my district.
" Although it has been contrary to the London County Council's
Bye-laws to remove this filth or any other offensive matter, excepting
between certain hours in the morning, nevertheless it has been done at
the request of the shopkeepers on Saturday evenings, so as to prevent
the offensive smells arising from the refuse, which would otherwise
have to remain on their premises from the Saturday morning till the
following Monday morning.
" The Fishmongers are now at their wits' end to know how to act
in the matter. The occupiers of houses near their shops are complaining
of the offensive smells arising from the putrid offal of fish, game,
poultry, Sc., when removed on Monday mornings after being kept for
48 hours, or longer.
" The nuisance complained of would certainly be much lessened if
the offal could be removed in the evening ; say. from 6 to 10 o'clock,
after the day's business was done, as was the case previous to the
Council's Bye-laws being passed. The complaints then were few, and
those of the method of removal: for the filth, in many cases, was shot
loose into any old broken-down cart or van. Now it is removed in a
proper manner, either in iron water-tight vans with air-tight covers, or
in iron cylindrical vessels closely covered and belonging to the shopkeepers."
After full consideration of the subject, the Sanitary Committee
made a recommendation, which was adopted by your
Vestry on the 6th November, to the following effect:—
" That a communication be addressed to the Council, pointing out
the desirability of their Bye-law being revised so as to allow
of the removal of fish offal, &c., at other times than those
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