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55
I have to call attention to a class of vessels, practically peculiar to the Port
of London, in regard to which an anomaly appears to exist. These vessels
are the well-known sailing barges. They are in all cases used as dwellings.
Frequently women and children are carried, and they trade almost entirely
within the limits of the Port of London, and in a large number of cases
entirely above Gravesend, penetrating also by means of tugs the upper
reaches of the Thames, its tributaries, and the canals.
The majority of these vessels are registered under the Merchant Shipping
Act, but some are registered as canal boats.
During the past four years the working of the Bye-laws of the Port of
London Sanitary Authority with reference to the carriage of offensive cargoes
has drawn particular attention to this class of vessel, which is largely
employed in the conveyance from the Metropolis of municipal and trade
refuse, offensive and otherwise.
Many, in fact practically all, wooden vessels carrying offensive cargoes have
been found utterly unfit for the purpose, in combination with their use as
dwellings. Free communication exists between the hold and cabin, not only
by way of the sides and bilges, but through the bulkhead, which frequently is
in bad repair, and constructed of one thickness of planks only, and sometimes
perforated by a door. Since January, 1900, five persons have lost their lives
on the River Thames by sleeping in the cabins of vessels laden with offensive
cargoes, in free communication with the cabins in the manner described,
death being caused in every case by suffocation from foul gases given off from
the cargo.
Were these boats registered under the Canal Boats Act, and it were proposed
that they should carry offensive cargoes, the following requirements would
have to be complied with:—
"The boat, if intended to be ordinarily used for the conveyance of any
"foul or offensive cargo, shall contain between the space to be occupied
"by such cargo and the interior of any cabin intended to be used as a
"dwelling, two bulkheads of substantial construction, which shall be
"separated by a space not less in any part than four inches, and open
"throughout to the external air, and furnished with a pump for the
"removal of any liquid from such space, and the one next adjoining the
"space to be occupied by the cargo shall be watertight."
I am of the opinion that these requirements are not sufficient, and would
require amplification. It would be quite possible for a sailing barge, as at
. present constituted, to fulfil these conditions without undergoing any
structural alteration, and gases, &c., may pass freely from the cargo space
into the cabin. I would suggest that the following words be added :—
"The two bulkheads shall be so constructed and placed as to
"effectually prevent any matter, effluvium, or gas passing between the
"cargo space and the interior of any cabin used as a dwelling."