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46
three of failing to close on Sunday for the sale of non-exempted articles,
and four of failing to close on the weekly half holiday for the sale of
non-exempted articles.
Evening observations led to 17 shopkeepers being warned for failing
to observe the General Closing Hours; 14 were first offences and two
received warnings from the Clerk. The number of warnings about failure
to exhibit notices required by the Shops Act was 570.
It was found necessary in 26 cases to ask for improved heating in
shops, and 115 requests were made for cleansing or repair work to be
carried out.
During the year two exemption certificates were issued in respect
of the provision of sanitary accommodation; and, on application, one
retailer was registered as a Jewish trader.
Smoke.
In 1930, fog in the Meuse valley, near Liege, caused 60 deaths. In
1948, fog in Dorona, Pennsylvania, caused 20 deaths. Far more interest
seemed to be aroused by these occurrences than by the fact that the fog
which hung over London for four days last December caused some 4,000
deaths. These other occurrences were regarded as national disasters,
and were subjected to immediate full public enquiries. As yet, however,
no investigation has been made into the London episode, and whatever
interest was aroused, this disaster was not regarded in the way anything
else of a comparable nature would have been. The 4,000 deaths were
the excess of the deaths in Greater London during the two weeks following
the fog over the number anticipated from the general trend of the
weeks immediately preceding the fog.
The weather condition which caused this fog was an anti-cyclonic
system of cold air established over the London basin from 5th to 8th
December. A temperature inversion at 200 to 500 feet was set up, the
mass of cold still air immediately over the ground being overlaid by
warmer air. In such conditions the natural water fog forming in the
colder air was kept down below the ceiling between the two layers. Smoke
was similarly trapped. The virtual absence of lateral air movement
prevented any marked diffusion of the fog.
Pollution of the atmosphere probably plays little part in the production
of a dense water fog. On the other hand, it does add to its density
and to its persistence. On this occasion, smoke poured for four days
from the chimneys of London and from the exhausts of the vehicles.
The usual recorders of pollution do not give information in such a form
as to indicate the extent of pollution which occurred. The daily measurements
of smoke and of sulphur-dioxide suspended in the atmosphere
showed that the highest average smoke concentration was 14 times greater
than the lowest in the nine days from 3rd to 11th December, and that
there was a nine-fold variation in the sulphur-dioxide figures. The maximum
pollution reached was probably considerably higher than the
average figures.