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PORT OF LONDON SANITARY OFFICES,
GREENWICH, S.E.
April, 1904.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE PORT OF LONDON
SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present herewith my Annual Report on the
work of your Officers, and the general conditions affecting the public health
in the Port of London, for the year ending 31st December, 1903.
The general increase in the work done, to which I called attention in my
last Annual Report, has been maintained throughout the past year, and the
record appears to be one of steady progression.
Thus, as shown on a reference to Table I., the total number of visits of
inspection made by your Sanitary Inspectors, for the year 1903, was 35,485,
an advance on the preceding year of nearly 2,000 inspections, and upwards of
3,000 above the average for the preceding five years.
I last year drew attention to the important question of sailing barges and
other vessels engaged in navigation entirely within the limits of the Ports of
London, Rochester, Faversham and Colchester. I have this year classed all
such vessels under the heading "Inland Navigation," from which it will be
seen that a considerable amount of attention is given to this class of vessels.
I have also shown separately the figures referring to inspections of premises
other than vessels, which form an important and increasing part of the duties
of your Inspectors.
Of the total of 35,485 visits of inspection, 14,552 were to vessels
lying in various parts of the River. 20,831 Inspections were made in the
docks and in the Gravesend District, while 102 vessels were inspected in that
portion of the River Medway which is within the jurisdiction of the Port
Sanitary Authority.
Of the total number, 3,133, or 9 per cent., required cleansing, this
cleansing being of the general kind, which is carried out on verbal representations
being made by your Inspectors.
Of the total number of vessels inspected, 15,989 were from Foreign ports,
5,338 arrived coastwise, and 13,294 vessels came within the description of
" Inland Navigation," while 864 inspections were made of premises on shore.
Of the nationality of vessels inspected, 29,444 were British, equal to 82'97
percent. of the total, Swedish and Norwegian totalled 1,743, or 4.91 per cent.
and German 1,063, or 2.99 per cent.
The number o0f seamen found by your Inspectors on their visits suffering
from sickness of a non-infectious character, and referred to the Seamen's
Hospital, Greenwich, amounted to 40.
The work done by the Steam Launches is also shown. The "David
Burnett" being used in visiting 4,265, the "Clotho" 4,120, and the "Denton"
3,447 vessels during the year.
In illustration of the large area traversed by the Port of London, a list is
given in Appendix J of the Cities, Boroughs, Urban and Rural Districts
abutting upon the Port.