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"But the important point to note is that at the present time there are no
"restrictions prohibiting either the collection of mussels, from the vicinity of sewage
"outfalls, or the deposition of such shellfish either for storage or growth in similar
"positions. Moreover, there is nothing to prevent the mussels from being washed
"actually at the mouths of sewers, and a perusal of the body of this Report will
"serve to show that all these practices not infrequently obtain."
COCKLES.
The precise condition in which Cockles are sent for immediate consumption varies
in different parts of the country.
A detailed account is given of the method adopted at Leigh-on-Sea.
On the methods adopted, Dr. Bulstrode comments as follows:—
"It will be seen by the above description, that these boiled or sterilized
"cockles are afforded opportunity of becoming polluted by the water in which
"they are washed after being boiled, and it is believed that in at least one notable
"instance, specific contamination of cockles was thus caused.
"Sometimes, too, cockles collected from sources remote from pollution, are
"laid down to clean themselves of sand in creeks, or positions where they may
"become specifically contaminated, and a point such as this is worth remembering,
"when cockle borne outbreaks of Enteric Fever or other illness are under
"investigation."
The number of persons engaged in the mussel and cockle industry must be large,
as in one district alone, the Lancashire and Western, 591 families are wholly or partially
dependent on the trade.
The sources of supply of the chief towns are given, and the report goes on to
state:—
"There is no valid reason for believing that the conditions as regards risk of
"contamination to shellfish are any better in foreign countries or in other parts of
"the British Isles, than they are in England and Wales, and as is now well known,
"shellfish-borne outbreaks of enteric fever have occurred in almost every country
"of Europe as well as in the United States of America. Detailed information is
"available as regards the condition under which Oyster culture in France is
"conducted, and from the official report of Dr. Mosny to the French Government,
"it would appear that at the time such report was made, not a few of the oyster
"layings around the French coasts were liable to be specifically contaminated."
"As has been said a large quantity of mussels from Holland are imported
"into this country, mainly for immediate consumption, and it has within recent
"years been the practice to forward with each consignment a certificate from the
"Netherlands Government testifying that the mussels in question had come from
"unpolluted sources. It is therefore important to note that Dr. Collingridge, who
"has always been fully alive to the possibility of the pollution of foreign shellfish,
"refers in his annual report for 1908 to cases of enteric fever occurring in the