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50
The Inspector calls at each of these latter wharves on alternate days of
the week.
There are practically no canned goods belonging to any firm connected
with the Beef Trust imported through wharves in our District. A certain
quantity of their goods is transferred or sold as ships rations ; and these pass
through Wilson's Wharf. They are examined by the Board of Trade Officers,
before the ship sails.
The Canned goods that are landed on wharves in Stepney are imported
chiefly from the Colonies, and are as follows, viz.:—
Fruits and fruit pulps from Tasmania.
Foods of all kinds from Queensland.
Rabbits, fruit and meat from Australia.
Meats from New Zealand.
Meats, salmon and fruits from Canada.
There are also meats and fruits landed from California, and meats from
South America.
In 1901, 110 tons of food were destroyed.
In 1902, 430 tons of food were destroyed.
In 1903, 488 tons of food were destroyed.
In 1904, 735 tons of food were destroyed.
In 1905, 232 tons of food were destroyed.
so that during the last five years an average of over 1 ton of tinned food has
been destroyed daily.
What became of this enormous quantity previous to the systematic
inspection of the wharves ? Doubtless a large quantity was destroyed by the
owners themselves. The remainder probably found its way on the market in
various ways. One dodge that was fairly frequently adopted was to apply to
the owners for blown and doubtful stuff which was stated by the applicants
to be used as manure. The owners in many instances suspected that it was
being sold for human food, and in order to protect themselves they caused the
buyer to pay for the goods at the time of purchase, but did not give the receipt
till the following day. On this receipt, there were the magic words "not to be
used for human consumption." The price was in all such cases higher than
could be expected if the goods were only intended for manure or pig feeding.
The fact that tins are "blown " or bulging indicates that the contents are
decomposed and unfit for human consumption. The longer the food has been
decomposing, the greater will be the amount of gas accumulated, and there
will consequently be more bulging of the ends of the tins. It is not an