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29
Bakehouses.
At the end of the year 1931 there were 23 bakehouses in the Borough of which
17 were factory bakehouses. Although these are described as "factories" they
are not large and only supply local needs; a number were formerly workshops and
are now classified as " factories " owing to the installation of machinery.
During the year, in addition to my inspections, there were 69 inspections of
bakehouses.
Sale of Fish.
During the past year 52 inspections were made of the fish shops and fish
stalls in the Borough, exclusive of market street inspections. There were 12 fish
shops of which five were in the Central Fish Market (a part of the Smithfield
Central Markets, Farringdon Road, the fish being sold by retail). Both wet and
dried fish were found to be sold at all the shops; at five, shell fish was also sold.
In addition to the shops referred to above, there are five stalls in the Borough for
the general sale of fish. There is also a shop in the Borough for the sale of shell fish
only and two for the sale of stewed eels. These premises were also kept under
observation.
Fried Fish Shops.
There are also 11 fried fish shops. These are regularly inspected to see that
they are kept in conformity with the By-laws made by the London County Council.
During the past year 261 inspections of these premises were made. At the same
time a careful look-out has been kept on the soundness of the fish and the
wholesomeness of the materials used for frying.
During the year a petition was received signed by a considerable number of
residents and occupiers of business premises in a main thoroughfare in the Borough
objecting to the proposed establishment of a new fried fish shop in the thoroughfare
owing to the "obnoxious odour arising therefrom." The ground landlords
eventually refused to allow the premises to be used for this purpose.
Market Streets.
There were 927 inspections of market streets, each of which includes a number
of stalls at which meat, fish, fruit and vegetables are sold. These streets are
regularly inspected daily and on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.
The daily inspection of these market streets helps to secure the maintenance
by the regular stallholders of good, sound food only, and, in addition, has the effect
of keeping away from these markets casual and unsatisfactory hawkers, who
generally avoid markets subject to regular and strict supervision.
In order to minimise as far as practicable any contamination of the food
exposed for sale in market streets from dust arising during street cleansing, the
Borough Surveyor has arranged for these streets to be sufficiently watered before
the scavenging to prevent dust arising.