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48
A difficulty in dealing with these barges, and also in dealing with cases of
smoke nuisance, is this: that after the issue and service of a Notice by
direction of the Authority, the vessel may not again be seen for some months,
and the Notice lapses, when the whole procedure has to be commenced anew.
Particulars of action take in respect of these barges will be found in
Appendix 0.
The number of infringements of the Bye-laws during the year was 14. In
no case was legal proceedings necessary.
WATER BARGES.
These vessels are kept under regular periodical supervision, and the number
now at work in the Port is 23. (Appendix K.)
Their general condition is good.
In six cases cleansing has been ordered by your Officers, and carried out.
Two new barges have taken the places of old ones during the year. The
use of iron instead of wood in the construction of these barges is now
practically universal.
CONDITION OF WATER- RIVER AND DOCKS.
The condition of water in the River and Docks has been fairly satisfactory
during the year. During the summer there was a nuisance owing to the state
of the water in the Limehouse Lock and South Dock Lock of the West India
Docks, and as this was due to the condition of the mud at the bottom, action
with regard to the removal of the mud was deferred, and the addition of
precipitants and deodorants minimised the nuisance.
On the 29th July, your Committee ordered, on the recommendation of
your Medical Officer, the service of a Notice upon the London and India Docks
Company, requiring action to be taken in order to prevent recurrence of the
nuisance, and the Dock Company have accordingly taken steps to remove the
foul deposit at the bottom of these Locks.
The comparatively inoffensive condition of the water in the River was no
doubt largely attributable to the somewhat low atmospheric temperatures and
the abundant rainfall experienced during the summer months.