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One business, that of a manure manufacturer, in Poplar, was discontinued during 1904.
In two instances proceedings were taken by the Council for permitting matter to enter the sewer
to the injury of the workmen, in one instance a fine of £15 and £30 costs was imposed, and in the
other instance the matter was adjourned to enable the Council and defendants to arrange for the
treatment of such matter by chemical means in future. Under the powers obtained by the County
'Council in 1903, a man was convicted at the Clerkenwell Police Court for using premises for
the reception of the carcases of dead horses without having previously obtained the Council's licence.
During 1903 inquiries were made by the Council concerning nuisances from the trade of fish
skin dressing carried on by a limited number of persons, principally on Hackney Marshes. In March,
1904, the Council adopted the following report of the Public Health Committee on this subject :—
Our attention has been called to the fact that there is a number of premises in London, especially at the east
end, upon which the business of dressing roker, skate, and other fish skins is being carried on. It appears that the
skins are obtained from fishmongers, are then scraped and dried, and aftewards sold to be prepared for use as beer
finings by brewers and for other purposes, and that during the whole of the process, and while the material is upon
the premises, a most offensive smell is given off.
It appeals to us that the circumstances justify the Council in making an order under section 19 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, declaring the business in question to be an offensive business within the meaning of
that section. This would have the effect of subjecting to by.laws all such existing businesses, but would not
prohibit them. No further business of this nature could then be established anew without the sanction of the
Council under a penalty not exceeding £50 for the illegal establishment thereof, and any person carrying on
business when established without such sanction would be liable to a fine not exceeding £50 for every day during
which he carried on the same.
Section 19 of the Act entirely prohibits the establishment anew in London of the business of a blood boiler,
bone boiler, manure manufacturer, soap boiler, tallow melter, or knacker, and the following businesses may only be
established anew in the County of London with the sanction of the Council, and in the City of London with the
sanction of the City Corporation—fellmonger, tripeboiler, slaughterer of cattle or horses, or any other business which
the Council may declare by order, confirmed by the Local Government Board, and published in the London Gazette,
to be an offensive business. The businesses which have been so declared by Orders made by the Metropolitan Board
of Works are as follows—fat-melter, blood-drier, animal charcoal manufacturer, catgut manufacturer, glue and size
manufacturer, and gut scraper.
We think that the Council should make a similar order, in the terms submitted with this report, with regard
to the business of a dresser of fish skins, and that notice of the Council's intention to apply to the Local Government
Board for confirmation of the order should bo advertised in some London newspaper. We recommend—
That an order be made by the Council, in the form submitted in this report, declaring the business of a
dresser of fish ekins to be an offensive business within the meaning of section 19 (1) (ft) of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891; that the seal of the Council be affixed to copies of such order; that application be made
to the Local Government Board for confirmation thereof; and that the clerk of the Council do take the
necessary steps to advertise the Council's intention to apply to the Board for its confirmation.
The following order was therefore made by the Council:—
Whereas by section 19, sub-section 1, of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, it is enacted as follows —
If any person—
(a) Establishes anew the following businesses or any of them, that is to say, the business of blood boiler,
bone boiler, manure manufacturer, soap boiler, tallow melter, or knacker, or
(b) Establishes anew, without the sanction of the County Council, the following businesses or any of them,
that is to say, the business of fellmonger, tripe boiler, slaughterer of cattle or horses, or any other business
which the County Council may declare by order confirmed by the Local Government Board, and published in
the London Gazette to be an offensive business;
he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50 in respect of the establishment thereof, and any person carrying on the
same when established shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50 for every day during which he so carries on the same.
and whereas it has been represented to the London County Council, being the County Council mentioned in the
above section, that the business of a dresser of fish skins is an offensive business and ought to be so declared, and
the said Council after due inquiry and consideration have determined to make an order accordingly; Now, the
London County Council in pursuance of the provisions of the above.mentioned Statute do by this Order declare
for the purposes of the said Statute that tho following business is an offensive business—that is to say, the business of
a dresser of fish skins—that is to say, any business in which fish skins are trimmed, cleansed, scraped or dried.
By-laws regulating the conduct of the business of a fish skin dresser have since been drafted by
the Council.
In October, 1904, the County Council made the following by.law, under Section 54 of their
General Powers Act of 1903, prescribing the conditions of carriage of dead horses through the streets ;—
Any person who shall convey the carcase of a dead horse through or along a public street
in the County of London shall use for such purpose a vehicle constructed and closed in such
manner that such carcase shall be completely concealed from public view, and the body of
such vehicle shall be made of, or lined with, impervious material so as to prevent any
liquid or discharge from the said carcase escaping from such vehicle.
He shall so convey such carcase along the public streets with all reasonable despatch and
so as to prevent any nuisance arising therefrom.
Any person who shall offend against this by.law shall be liable for each breach of such
by.law to a penalty of forty shillings.
This by.law shall not extend to the City of London.
Effluvium nuisances from other than the scheduled trades are referred to in some of the annual
reports. Thus, in Kensington, nuisance was experienced from gas works in Kensal Green ; in Westminster,
nuisance arose from effluvia given off in the preparation of acetylene gas from calcium carbide,
from motor tyre works in which benzine and ammonium sulphide were used, and from the National
Skating Palace, the oause of which was not obvious and for which a conviction was obtained, which was
upheld on appeal. In Hampstead, nuisance was experienced from ammonia flues, from ballast burning
and from fish curing, and in Lambeth, from dust destructors, from electric supply works and from
ballast burning.