London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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42
FISH SUPPLIES.
187,288 tons of fish, of which 185,023 were land-borne and 2,265 water-borne, were
received at or near Billingsgate Market during the year.
This was a decrease of 16,922 tons in the land deliveries and an increase of 407 tons in
deliveries by water.
MONTHLY FISH RETURNS. Table showing Weight of Fish Delivered, Fish seized as Unsound, and Percentage of Fish Condemned to that delivered, at or near Billingsgate Market, and on board boats lying off that place, during each month of the year 1938.
| Month. | Weight of Fish Delivered. | Total. | Weight of Fish Condemned. | Ratio of Fish Condemned to that Delivered. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By Land. | By Water. | ||||||||||||
| Tons. | cwts | qrs. | Tons. | cwts | qrs. | Tons. | cwts. | qrs. | Tons. | cwts. | qrs. | ||
| January | 17,289 | 9 | 2 | 92 | 12 | 2 | 17,382 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 8 | 3 | •163% or 1 ton in 611.238 tons. |
| February | 15,583 | 14 | 2 | 112 | 10 | 2 | 15,696 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 2 | •130% „ „ 766.605 „ |
| March | 16,928 | 10 | 3 | 86 | 8 | 2 | 17,014 | 19 | 1 | 118 | 6 | 2 | •695% „ 143.798 ,, |
| April | 15,354 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 18 | 0 | 15,386 | 0 | 3 | 41 | 2 | 1 | •267% „ „ 228.623 ., |
| May | 15,407 | 4 | 0 | 115 | 0 | 0 | 15,522 | 4 | 0 | 54 | 16 | 3 | •353% „ „ 283.058 |
| June | 14,621 | 3 | 1 | 104 | 15 | 1 | 14,725 | 18 | 2 | 90 | 4 | 1 | •612% „ „163.235 ., |
| July | 15,832 | 5 | 3 | 88 | 12 | 1 | 15,920 | 18 | 0 | 99 | 6 | 1 | •623% „ „160.311 .. |
| August | 14,513 | 17 | 2 | 221 | 3 | 0 | 14,735 | 0 | 2 | 79 | 15 | 2 | •541% „ „ 184.707 „ |
| September | 15,550 | 3 | 3 | 367 | 14 | 2 | 15,017 | 18 | 1 | 102 | 5 | 2 | •642% „ „ 155.638 „ |
| October | 14,312 | 7 | 1 | 378 | 7 | 0 | 14,690 | 14 | 1 | 51 | 6 | 0 . | •349% „ „ 286.368 ., |
| November | 15,328 | 6 | 0 | 419 | 6 | 2 | 15,747 | 12 | 2 | 83 | 3 | 2 | •528% „ „ 189.331 „ |
| December | 14,301 | 17 | 0 | 247 | 4 | 0 | 14,549 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 16 | 3 | •246% „ „ 405.972 „ |
| Totals | 185,023 | 2 | 0 | 2,265 | 12 | 0 | 187,288 | 14 | 0 | 805 | 1 | 2 | 429% „ „ 233.401 „ |
*I am indebted to the Clerk and Superintendent of the Central Markets for the figures relating to the market
supplies, sources of origin. &c.
** The minimum deliveries relate to Saturdays when practically no wholesale business at the Market is carried out.
Weight of Fish Delivered, Fish Seized as Unsound, and percentage of Fish Condemned to that Delivered, at or near Billingsgate Market during 1938 and the five years 1933—1937.
| Year. | Weight of Fish Delivered. | Total. | Weight of Fish Condemned. | Ratio of Fish Condemned to that Delivered. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By Land. | By Water. | ||||||
| Tons. | Tons. | Tons. | Tons. | cwt. | qrs; | ||
| 1933 | 181,888 | 14,999 | 196,887 | 1,168 | 6 | 2 | 1 ton in 155.726 tons or 0.642% |
| 1934 | 186,775 | 13,186 | 199,961 | 1,030 | 5 | 0 | 1 „ 194.137 „ 0.515% |
| 1935 | 193,719 | 12,341 | 206,060 | 965 | 0 | 3 | 1 ,. 213.533 „ 0.467% |
| 1936 | 201,770 | 2,976 | 204,746 | 1,027 | 6 | 1 | 1 „ 199.363 „ 0.501% |
| 1937 | 201,945 | 1,858 | 203,803 | 867 | 3 | 0 | 1 „ 235.055 „ 0.425% |
| Average (5 years) | 193,219 | 9,072 | 202,291 | 1,011 | 12 | 3 | 1 ton in 200.090 tons or 0.499% |
| 1938 | 185,023 | 2,265 | 187,288 | 805 | 1 | 2 | 1 ton in 233.401 tons or 0.429% |
PUBLIC HEALTH (MEAT) REGULATIONS, 1924.
Much improvement is reported, and the number of persons who knowingly evade
the Regulations is now negligible.
The market carriers and private butchers know the Regulations, and the advantage
of maintaining their vehicles in clean and proper condition. They are always willing to
put right any unsatisfactory condition brought to their notice.
The market porters generally also carry out the Regulations, although certain difficulty
is experienced from time to time with some of the employees about the market in regard to
the wearing of washable head-coverings.
The number of private cars used for the conveyance of meat is increasing, but the
owners are always willing to take such precautions as are reasonably necessary to avoid
contamination when using this class of vehicle for the transport of meat. Many of them
have fitted an adjustable boxed inner lining, which is easily detached and cleansed, and
others have all meat adequately wrapped in clean jute cloths. I have, therefore, no justification
in attempting to stop this practice.