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131
is nothing extraordinary in 57 tons of meat out
of 5,914 tons, or 1 in 104, being overtaken by
the "heat-wave" on its transit to market, whereas
the proportion of seizures to deliveries throughout
the year 1897 show only 1 in 429. The magnitude
of these operations, and the enormous loss
sustained by growers and consigners of meat,
will be better estimated if we calculate the
commercial value of 174 tons, seized as unsound,
at 6d. per lb., which amounts to £9,744.
It is but bare justice to add that the enormous
mass of putrid meat passing through the hands
of the Inspectors has been accomplished without
a single complaint on the part of the salesmen,
and the staff, although overworked and underofficered,
have performed their duties with zeal
and intelligence.
I may add that the seizures for eight weeks up
to and including 23rd September, 1897, were
4,797, a weekly average of 599, whilst the
seizures for eight weeks up to and including
22nd September of this year (1898) were 6,655,
or 832 per week.
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