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162
"the cargoes are inspected from time to time, the meat having been
"found almost invariably of good quality. An intimation was received
"that some of the meat coming by this route was not of the same good
"quality as hitherto. I therefore instructed one of your Food Inspectors
"to visit Tilbury, and wait and inspect all the meat and foodstuffs
"arriving. This was done for several nights, without anything unusual
"being observed, but on the 26th November, 1902, amongst the cargo
"were 464 carcasses of sheep. From enquiries made, it was stated that
"these sheep came from Servia, where they had been bought up by some
"enterprising merchant, slaughtered on the spot, evidently by unskilled
"hands, placed in vans containing ice beneath the floor and also in the
"roof. These vans were sent from Servia direct to Ostend, where on
"arrival the carcasses were placed on the vessel. On inspection of these
"carcasses they were found extremely emaciated, and had suffered from
"some disease. Portions of the liver had been inadvertently left behind,
"and on examination of these portions they were found filled with
"flukes, and it was observed that nearly every one of these sheep must
"have been suffering in the same way.
"On examining the inside of the carcasses quantities of flukes were
"seen adhering to the inner walls of the chest and abdomen. These
"carcasses were seized and destroyed. A careful watch was kept on
"these vessels, and the cargo inspected every night, with the result that
"in all 436 carcasses were seized, and it ultimately ceased to be profitable
"for the Foreign merchant to send them over, knowing that they would
"be rigorously inspected, and if found unsound would be destroyed."
In the course of the year 23 senders of diseased meat have been prosecuted,
and in all except one, where someone else and not the person charged was
shown to be the owner, convictions were obtained, and fines ranging from £1
to £100 were inflicted; 5 prosecutions were for beef, 3 for mutton, and 15 for
pigs or pork. Respecting the large proportion of pork prosecutions, there can be
no doubt that the higher prices ruling in comparison with recent years has
tempted some senders to be indiscreet, the report of the Royal Commission on
Tuberculosis rendering imperative the seizure of all pigs showing Tuberculosis
in any degree.
The business of Leadenhall Market continues on the same lines of steady
prosperity as the first poultry market in the world, while there is an excellent
daily supply of first-class meat.
SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
Since the daily record of the slaughterhouses at Aldgate was commenced in
October, 1899, two have been closed by order of the Lord Mayor, and in three
other instances the right to slaughter has lapsed owing to non-user. There
now remain nine, which are generally well kept, but cannot be regarded as
desirable features so near the centre of a great City.