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They are strongly of opinion that the only way in which this evil
can be effectively dealt with is by placing tidal waters in the jurisdiction
of some competent authority, and conferring upon that authority power
to prevent the taking of shellfish for human consumption from any
position where liable to risk of dangerous contamination, and to enforce
restrictions as regards pollution, and as regards waters, foreshores, beds,
pits, ponds and layings in which shellfish are fattened or stored.
The case of each river and estuary is a problem by itself.
They also accept the view that at present the results of bacteriological
examinations must be interpreted in the light of topographical
observations.
The question which I have submitted for the consideration of your
Worshipful Committee is, as to who should be the controlling authority
for the shellfish layings situated in the Thames and Thames Estuary.
The Commission state that the case of each river and estuary is a
problem by itself, and in connection with this I would point out that
the Port of London Sanitary Committee have been interesting themselves
in this question since the year 1897, when this question first came into
prominence, and was the subject of investigation and report by
Dr. Bulstrode, an Inspector of the Local G-overnment Board.
The Chairman of the Committee and Medical Officer gave evidence in
1899 before the Committee of the House of Loris considering the
Oyster Bill brought out in that year, and urging that the controlling body
should be the Port of London Sanitary Authority.
The Authority possesses the necessary Staff, with Launches. It is
a body sufficiently large to be impartial, and not to be influenced by
personal or local conditions. It is not the Authority for the disposal of
London sewage, and it has since the year 1872 (on the constitution of
this Authority) carried out its work at its own expense.
In order to deal satisfactorily with the subject, it would be necessary
for the jurisdiction of the Port of London Sanitary Authority to be
considerably extended, and in connection with this, I would point out
that in 1872 the limits of the Port of London extended as far Eastward
as a line drawn from the North Foreland in Kent to the Naze in Essex.
This would include all estuaries in which the most famous oyster layings
of the United Kingdom are situated.
TYPHUS FEVER.
One case of this comparatively rare disease was reported during the year
as follows:—
The s.s. "Hibernian," of Glasgow, from Buenos Ayres, arrived at Gravesend
on the 29th May via Dunkirk. One of the crew who had been ashore in