London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Port of London 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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56
I append a list of the Refrigerating Stores which exist within the jurisdiction of
the Port of London Sanitary Authority, and also the number and carrying capacity of
the steamers fitted with refrigerating machinery and engaged in the frozen meat trade
to the 31st December, 1911.
Port of London Authority. Capacity.
Victoria Dock 316,000 carcasses.
Victoria Dock Extension 181,000 „
West India Dock 89,000 „
Surrey Commercial Dock 68,000 „
London Central Markets Cold Storage Co., Ltd.
Poplar 150,000 „
Total Capacity in 56 lb. Sheep 804,000 „
Summary.
| Route. | Ships. | Carrying capacity. |
|---|---|---|
| Australia to United Kingdom, &c. - | 58 | 2,565,600 carcasses. |
| New Zealand | 51 | 4,810,500 „ |
| Australasia and/or South America to United Kingdom, &c. | 21 | 1,920,100 „ |
| South America to United Kingdom, &c- | 75 | 4,857,200 „ |
| 205 | 14,153,400 „ |
The importation of Frozen Mutton and Lamb (in carcasses) into the United
Kingdom began approximately about the year 1880, when 400 carcasses were imported
into London.
The following figures will show how the importations into London have increased.
| Carcasses | Carcasses | Carcasses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year. from Australia. | from New Zealand. | from South America. | TOTAL. |
| 1881 - 7,275 | Nil. | Nil, | 7,275 |
| 1891 - 334,684 | 1,894,105 | 160,340 | 2,399,129 |
| 1901 - 1,194,157 | 3,234,119 | 342,525 | 4,770,801 |
| 1911 - 2,330,572 | 4,513,457 | 1,126,303 | 7,970,332 |
The total importations of Mutton, Lamb, and Beef into the United Kingdom, from Australia, New Zealand, and South America, in 1911, were as follows :—
| BEEF. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutton Carcasses. | Lamb Carcasses. | Frozen Quarters. | Chilled Quarters. | |
| From Australia | 1,962,048 | 1,650,231 | 520,073 | 1,309 |
| From New Zealand | 1,795,259 | 3,427,236 | 165,546 | — |
| From South America | 3,058,943 | 1,066,666 | 1,523,706 | 2,151,170 |
| Totals | 6,616,250 | 6,144,133 | 2,209,325 | 2,152,479 |
Of these quantities, there were landed in the Port of London :—
3,740,360 carcasses or 56.53 per cent, of the Mutton.
4,229,972 „ or 68.84 „ „ Lamb.
1,827,803 quarters or 41.90 „ „ Beef.
For the foregoing figures relating to cold storage and the frozen meat trade, I am
indebted to the Annual Reviews issued by Messrs. W. Weddel and Co.