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PORT OF LONDON SANITARY OFFICES,
GREENWICH.
1st July, 1891.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE PORT OF LONDON SANITARY
COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
Herewith I beg to submit some brief particulars of the work carried
out in the Port of London by your officers during the first six months
of the current year.
During this period 7608 vessels were inspected, 1,985 of these were lying
in the river, 1,395 in the Grave send or lower district, and the remainder in
the various docks.
These figures show a slight increase on those for the corresponding half of
1890, and may fairly indicate a more settled and satisfactory condition of the
trade of the Port.
Of the whole number only 213 (=2.7 per cent.) required cleansing in any
form.
This is an extremely small percentage, and, moreover, a diminishing one,
a satisfactory indication of the value of steady and continuous pressure by
the officers of the various Port Sanitary Authorities of the kingdom.
Out of 7608, no fewer than 6,675 (=87.73 per cent.) carried the British
flag.
By reference to Appendix E it will be seen that 225 structural alterations,
affecting 176 vessels, have been made during the six months for improvement
of their sanitary condition, while 95 others which were ordered are not yet
known to have been carried out.
Seventy-four of these completed affected ventilation, and 142 the lighting
and heating of crew's quarters, while nine related to the storage of water.
Most of these alterations ought not to have been required, and much
inconvenience is caused to owners and masters by the necessity for them.