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project fell through. This is much to be regretted, as, if adopted, it would
have practically converted the voluntary system of inspection and marking
into a compulsory one.
It is gratifying to note that on the whole this action of the Netherland
Government has been attended with a marked improvement in the quality of
the consignments of Dutch pork that find their way to our markets.
It is stated on good authority that although the system has been in force
for a comparatively short time, quite 70 per cent. of the meat, chiefly pork
coming from Holland, is now inspected and marked by expert Government
Inspectors, the remaining proportion being sent by other dealers who have
no opportunity of having their meat inspected, or who may have good reasons
for not submitting their goods for examination.
In these circumstances it would be greatly to the public advantage if the
Great Eastern Railway Company could see their way to fall into line with the
other carriers of meat from Holland, and refuse to ship any not bearing the
guarantee of the Netherland Authorities.
This voluntary marking was first introduced at the Hook of Holland, and
it has since been extended to the towns of Oss, Assen, Rotterdam, and
Eindhoven.
In the month of October Servian sheep again made their appearance on the
market. They are sent in refrigerator vans as far as Ostend, whence to
London there is no means of preserving them; the consequence was that the
weather being mild and wet, the time after leaving the refrigerator van was
just long enough for them to get thoroughly "nasty " before they reached the
Central Market, so that although they did not carry the same appearance of
disease as those of last year, they soon earned for themselves the nickname of
"Bulgarian atrocities;" a large proportion was seized, and for those sold
such a poor price was realised that it seems unlikely that any considerable
trade will be developed.
Correspondence with the Admiralty has resulted in a succession of Officers
of the Royal Navy being sent to the City Markets to undergo a course of
training in order to enable them to determine whether the meat supplied to
the Service by Contractors is of good quality, and in accordance with the
terms of the Admiralty contract.
Seventeen prosecutions were instituted during the year for sending diseased
meat to London. One fishmonger has been summoned for exposing unsound
fish for sale, and one game dealer for exposing and selling unsound rabbits.
Convictions were obtained in each case, the fines and costs imposed amounting