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215
Council. On making enquiry of the Superintendents for
Finsbury and Islington, I am, however, informed that considerable
pollution does not take place at either of these wharves.
After careful enquiry of the workmen and an inspection of the
wharves, however, I formed the opinion that it would be very
difficult to. avoid a certain amount of pollution, especially on
windy days. I understand that the Finsbury authorities have
placed some specially constructed boards alongside the barges to
catch droppings of refuse, and the Superintendent of Islington
has also taken steps to diminish possibility of pollution.
On November 20th I had the opportunity of discussing the
subject at length with Mr. Glass, the Secretary of the Regent's
Canal Company. He stated that the chief pollution was, in his
opinion, from the Borough Councils' wharves. He further stated
that the water was changed daily by the Company, more than a
million gallons (1,061,718 gallons) of fresh water on the average
being passed through the Canal daily. This water is obtained
from the Brent Reservoir at Hendon (Welsh Harp), or from
Ruislip Reservoir. There is a fall of 90 feet in the 8½ miles
of Canal from the Hampstead Lock to the Thames at Limehouse.
Mr. Glass is of opinion that the condition of the City
Road Basin compares favourably with other similar Basins.
It is the avowed practice of the Company to clear out and
cleanse these Basins about once in ten years, but it is said
that in the past it was done more frequently. The Company
endeavours to protect its Canal water from pollution by means
of various bye-laws, &c., and offers publicly a reward to any
person giving them information which will lead to a conviction
for wilful pollution.
Whilst I obtained evidence by inspection that the water of
the Canal is open to criticism, I did not obtain any evidence
to show that, as regards the City Road Basin, the water or
water-course is at the present time in such a state as to be a
nuisance, injurious or dangerous to the health of the surrounding
community.