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80
At the time of this seizure of 216 tins several samples of other
kinds of peas were obtained by me in order to compare prices, as it
had been stated that the 216 tins of peas were being offered at good
market price. On opening some of the samples purchased with this
object, it was found that a tin labelled "Early June Peas" was not
satisfactory. Accordingly another visit was paid to the shop from
which they had been purchased, and seven more tins of the same
consignment (which were all the vendor had in his possession) were
seized and brought to me. In the presence of Mr. Colwell, the
Public Analyst, Chief Inspector Greea, and Inspector Billing, I
carefully and minutely examined these seven tins, without shaking
them previously. I found they had the four following characteristics
:—
(1.) There was a most disagreeable smell, sour and offensive.
(2.) The liquor in which the peas were preserved was viscous
and turbid, and the surface was more or less completely
covered by a scum of bubbles.
(3.) The peas themselves were soft and pulpy.
(4.) The peas were of a light yellow brown colour.
This last characteristic I considered probably due to the fact that
they had not been greened by copper. But to obtain information
on that point I handed a tin to Mr. Colwell for chemical analysis.*
The four of us who examined these seven tins of peas were all
agreed as to the presence of these characters as stated above, and
* The following is the Public Analyst's certificate, dated 19th May, 1903:—
" I hereby certify that I have examined the preserved peas handed to me on
" the 7th May in a can marked " Early June Peas," and find they contain as
" follows:—
" Zinc 0.084 grains per lb.
"Tin 0.17 " "
" Copper and lead were not detected."
On May 20 1 received also the following report:—
" I have completed the examination of the other two samples of canned peas
" and find as follows:—
Copper. Tin. Lead. Zinc.
" (1) Tarantelle Brand (Large) 0-624 2114 nil trace grains per lb.
" (2) Tarantelle Brand (Small) 0 602 1-26 nil trace „ „
" No. 1 was fermenting slightly when received."
(Signed) J. KEAR COLWELL.