View report page

55
"The consumers of this country will not have salt bacon,
and there is no other known method of bringing mild cured
product from Canada and the United States of America than
the one at present in use. The business from Canada and the
United States of America cannot be done on any other lines ;
we have tried many others, including refrigeration without
borax packing, but all results were unsatisfactory.
"To show you the magnitude of the trade, we may state
that during the past three years the imports of Canadian
product alone have amounted to—
1905. 1,483,560 cwts. value £3,450,177
1906. 1,445,019 „ „ 3,809,860
1907. 1,489,350 „ „ 4,016,583
4,417,929 „ „ £11,276,620
and from the United States of America they have been.
3,778,088 cwts. value £8,238,385
1906. 3,821,637 ,, „ 9,667,884
1907. 3,112,686 „ „ 8,427,979
10,712,411 „ ,. £26,334,248
as given in the Trade and Navigation accounts for 1907.
"The whole of this product is sent over to this country
sprinkled lightly with borax, and nothing else.
"We append analysis by Dr. Rideal of a piece of Canadian
bacon taken just as it lands from the ship ; also a piece of
Canadian smoked bacon bought in a shop. The latter piece
has been analysed for Boracic Acid, firstly as it is sold over the
counter, secondly after being fried, and thirdly after being
boiled.
Copy analysis by Dr. Rideal of piece of green bacon in the
condition that it arrives in London. The box that this piece
was taken from contained 672 lbs. of bacon, and 4 lbs. of
borax powder has been used in packing.
" I have examined a sample of green bacon received from
you, March 23rd, which then weighed 4 lbs. 5 ozs. This sample
showed on its surface that borax had been used for packing. I
therefore washed the joint in three litres of warm water to
remove the crystals of borax adhering thereto as far as possible.