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The carcases arriving from Australia generally have attached to them an "Official
Certificate" of the Commonwealth of Australia, which states: "That this meat has
been examined, and by ante-mortem and post-mortem veterinary inspection is found
free from disease, and suitable in every way for human consumption."
With a view to checking the efficiency of the examination in Australia, a careful
examination of pig-carcases from Australia during the year was made, and the two
following cases go to prove that such consignments must be carefully examined :—
The s.s. " Essex," from Melbourne, arriving on the 9th November, having on board
50 pig-carcases, each of which bore the Official Certificate of the Commonwealth of
Australia.
The carcases were examined in dock, and five were found to be affected with
tuberculosis and were seized and destroyed.
The s.s. " Anchises," from Australia, arrived on the 21st December, with a consignment
of 149 pig-carcases, four of which your officers found to be affected with
tuberculosis, of which, three bore the Official Certificate. They were seized and
destroyed.
In each case the facts were reported to the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth
of Australia, and I am informed that the services of the Inspectors who examined
the carcases found, ex s.s. " Essex," have been dispensed with.
Pig-Carcases from Russia.
The s.s. " Carmarthenshire," from Vladivostock, arrived in the Port of London,
on the 27th April, with a consignment described as " thirteen sides of frozen pork."
On examination the consignment was found to consist of 13 pig-carcases of the
" razor-back" variety, each one bearing a medical certificate from Vladivostock.
The carcases were not frozen hard, they were badly butchered, wet, flabby, and
very unsightlv. They were all putrid and unfit for human food.
Only one carcase was examined for evidence of disease, and that was found to be
badly infected with tuberculosis in the throat glands.
Chinese characters were stamped on the legs of the carcases. All the carcases
were seized and destroyed.
Pig-Carcases from China.
The s.s. "Carmarthenshire," from Yokohama, arrived in the Port of London on
the 14th October, with 22 pig-carcases from China. Each carcase was carefully
examined, and found to be fit for human food. This was the only consignment from
China which arrived during the year.