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that if the Master was not actually suffocated, yet the air in the cabin was in
such a condition that it was impossible for anyone to have lived in it for even
a short time.
On the 8th July, 1903, the Master of the barge " Alert," lying in the Millwall
Dock, laden with manure, was found dead in the fore-cabin of the barge,
under precisely similar conditions as obtained in the case of the "William
Hordle." The verdict of the coroner's jury was also one of death from
natural causes.
These facts were reported to the Board of Trade, and they were asked to
co-operate with your Worshipful Committee in this important matter, whilst
in the meantime action was taken under the Public Health (London) Act,
1891.
Your Committee have during the past year served upon various owners of
this class of barge 57 Statutory Notices requiring not only the abatement of
the nuisances, but the prevention of the recurrence thereof.
The legal position has been tested in the Courts of Summary Jurisdiction,
and a conviction has been obtained in each of the cases taken there.
The alterations ordered are reported to have been carried out on a total of
112 barges during a period of about three years, and, except in two cases
where the work had been carried out in an imperfect and unsatisfactory
manner, the nuisance has been abated and has not recurred.
When a Statutory Notice under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, has
been served by order of your Worshipful Committee, proceedings can only be
taken should the nuisance not be abated within the prescribed period allowed,
or, when abated, it has been allowed to recur. This constitutes the offence,
and legal proceedings must be taken within a period of six months following
the time specified in the Statutory Notice for the abatement or prevention of
recurrence of the nuisance.
A barge so offending may not be seen for six months by your Inspectors ;
may have been laid up ; may not have been engaged in carrying cargoes of an
offensive nature ; or, when seen, the nuisance may have been abated by clearing
out the space under the cabin floor.
It should be borne in mind that the nuisance and danger to health exist
chiefly during the time the cargo is carried. These barges trade to various
places in the Thames Estuary, and get "under weigh" as soon as possible
after being loaded, and unless anchored, it is not practically possible for your
Officers to get on board and inspect the conditions on board.
Thus much of the work of your Officers is rendered inoperative, and the
serving of repeated Notices only, without summoning the offenders, leads to no