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these shortcomings have been pointed out to the Board of
Trade, and the Board were requested to inform this Authority
whether they would cause the bulkheads as described to be placed in each
barge carrying or about to carry an offensive cargo, on complaint from
this Authority, and if so, this Authority would be pleased to co-operate
with the Board not only by complaining, but also by directing the
service of Statutory Notices under the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, requiring not only the abatement of the nuisance, but the
prevention of the recurrence thereof."
The Board has replied, stating that "any case in which a complaint is made
" by the Port Sanitary Authority will receive the Board's careful
" consideration."
MERCANTILE MARINE.
The result of this Inquiry is most disappointing. It is admitted that the
main cause of the diminution in the numbers of British seamen is the superior
attractiveness of shore employment, with its greater comforts, and an increase
in the numbers may be looked for rather in the improvement of their
conditions.
The result of the Inquiry may be summed up as consisting in the provision
of a certificated cook on every foreign-going vessel of and above 1,000 tons
and also the inspection by the Board of Trade of the provisions of any vessel
whose probable voyage exceeds 21 days.
The conditions under which sailors have to live on board vessels is one
that has been brought to the notice of your Committee on many occasions.
It is true that the instructions issued by the Board of Trade to their surveyors
are good as far as they go, but they do not go far enough, and many of the
improvements appear to have been made in comparatively recent years.
These instructions do not appear to be applicable to older vessels, and, indeed,
it is the experience of your Inspectors that vessels which have been recently
built, even when going on their first voyage, do not always comply with the
conditions required by the Board of Trade.
Each seaman is entitled to receive 72 cubic feet of space, whereas the
minimum requirements were he living on shore under similar conditions would
be at least 400 cubic feet.