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"they have been proved to be safe and wholesome, and their insanitary
"surroundings satisfactorily remedied.
"A Committee of Oyster Merchants, Planters and others interested in
"the Trade has held frequent meetings at the Company's Hall, when the
"conditions under which oysters have been cultivated and the remedies
"to be applied to regain the confidence of the Public have been carefully
"discussed. Those present pledged themselves to use every effort in
"their power to ensure that none but healthy oysters from known
"uncontaminated sources should be placed on the market for sale.
"The Fishmongers' Company invite the Medical and Sanitary
"Authorities in those districts in which oysters are grown or stored to
"co-operate in protecting the Public Health by noting and reporting any
"defects of drainage, &c., in the neighbourhood of beds, pits or layings
"which may adversely affect their purity.
"The Fishmongers' Company are always ready to afford such infor"mation
and assistance as may be in their power to Local Bodies or
"others whose object is to ensure the safety of the Public and the welfare
"of an important branch of the Fishing Industry.
"J. Wrench Towse,
"Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, London.
"Fishmongers' Hall,
"London Bridge.
"Scotch Office—
"24, Charlotte Square,
"Edinburgh.
"August, 1903."
The Company having sent me a copy of the above, I pointed out the
desirability of publishing in conjunction with it a list of those oyster
merchants who were willing to carry out its provisions in the conduct of
their business.
It would further be to the public interest if the Fishmongers' Company
also published the results of the bacteriological examination of the samples,
referred to in the notice, they have caused to be taken from the many
fisheries in different parts of the coast.
Nothing short of this, with the addition of the names of those merchants
dealing in shellfish from sources of undoubted purity, will satisfy the public.
At present, without such assurance, we may safely say the consumption of
all shellfish must be regarded as attended with grave risk to the purchaser.