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The master and his wife stated that owing to bad trade they had been out
of work for some time and earning no money, and they were glad to get
work on the boat so as to get food for the children. Obviously the master
was liable to be summoned for a breach of the Canal Boats Acts and Regulations,
but it was thought that any fine which might have been imposed under
the circumstances would have to be paid by him, and would only punish his
wife and children.
Under the circumstances the owners of the boat were communicated with,
and I warned the master and explained his liability.
The "Leslie," of Brierley Hill, No. 229, was inspected on the 12th August.
The after cabin of the boat is registered for three adults and the fore cabin
for two. The after cabin was found to be occupied by one adult female and
five children, being one child in excess of the number for which it is
registered. It appeared that all the occupants of the boat were living in the
after cabin, owing to the fore cabin having been rendered uninhabitable by a
recent collision.
In each case where overcrowding was found, the same was remedied when
brought to the notice of the owners of the boats.
(f) No infringement of the Acts and Regulations was found as regards
the separation of sexes.
(g) Thirty intimations were sent in respect of the want of cleanliness, and
except in the case of six boats, it has been reported that the necessary cleaning
has been carried out.
The only bad case occurred on the "Ada," of Wolverhampton, No. 946,
reported under the heading of "Overcrowding and Ventilation." The after
cabin of this boat was found in a filthy and offensive condition. The
necessary cleaning was put in hand at once.
(h) On one boat the ventilation was found to be defective, owing to the
fact that a piece of tin had been nailed over the ventilator. This occurred
on the "Ada," of Wolverhampton, referred to under the heading of "Overcrowding."
The matter was brought to the notice of the master, who immediately
remedied the defect.
(i) As a general rule, the boats inspected were found to have been painted
regularly, but in two instances the cabin required repainting.
(j) Ten boats were without a suitable receptacle for the storage of not less
than three gallons of water for drinking purposes, as required by the
Regulations. The practice is for the owners to make the master supply the
drinking water receptacle.