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"l. 1 am directed by the Minister of Health to say that he has
been considering the need for retaining these Regulations
-which were made following a world-wide outbreak of psittacosis
among birds of the parrot species.
2. It was believed at the time that the only birds in which the
disease occurred -were of that specie , but research has since
shown that it also occurs in other birds such as seagulls,
pigeons, ducks, turkeys, etc., and is understood to exist in
an enzootic form among birds in this country at the present time.
3. The Minister is advised that there is no reason on health
grounds for maintaining the ban against the import of parrots
and he has accordingly made the enclosed Statutory Instrument
revoking the Regulations of 1930 with effect from the 8th
January, 1952".
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
On the 4th July, 1951, a Police Officer saw two men about to climb
the boundary fence at the Royal Albert Dock. On seeing the constable the men
ran away but one of them who was carrying a suitcase, was apprehended. The
suitcase was opened and found to contain six live green parrots.
It was ascertained that the man apprehended was a merchant seaman and
after extensive enquiries by the police, two other members of the crew of his ship
admitted that they had attempted to import six live parrots for the purpose of sale.
On the 6th July, 1951, a successful application was made to the Magistrates
sitting at East Ham Magistrates Court for summonses against the three men
concerned, alleging that they had imported the parrots into Great Britain in
contravention of Regulation 4 of the Parrots (Prohibition of Import) Regulations
1930 and the summonses were made returnable on the 10th July, 1.951.
On the 10th July, 1951, the Assistant Solicitor to the Corporation
appeared to prosecute the three defendants, who were not represented, and pleaded
guilty to the summonses.
After the facts had been fully stated the Magistrate fined the defendants
£10, £15 and £20 and in addition ordered them to pay £1.1.0, £1.11.6 and £1.11.6
respectively towards the costs of the prosecution.
SHELLFISH IN THE THAMES ESTUARY.
The Port Medical Officer is indebted to Mr. D.E. Made ley, the Port
Sanitary Inspector in charge of the application of the Shellfish Regulations, for
the following notes relating to the cockle industry at Leigh-on-Sea:-
During the year the close supervision of the cockle industry has been
maintained.
Approval under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations, 1934 was withdrawn
in the case of one firm® This firm has ceased to gather shellfish in the Estuary
and has dismantled all the cooking apparatus.
The industry is now in the hands of nine firms, eight of whom are at Leighon-Sea
and one at Southend-on-Sea.
The firms actively engaged in the industry have modified their apparatus
in accordance with the Port Health Authority's requirements. despite considerable
delay in obtaining delivery of new apparatus or replacements for old apparatus.
To quote only one instance. One Establishment had the misfortune to develop a
boiler defect in July. Temporary and as is transpired, ineffective repairs were
carried out and eventually a new boiler was ordered in August. It had not been
delivered up to December 1951. (in fact it arrived in April 1952).
The remarkable standard of cleanliness and upkeep which has always been a
feature of the cockle-boats has been fully maintained.
In the Establishments ashore, considerable improvements have been made to
the cooking and washing apparatus, and to the structure of some of the Establishments
themselves.
Each Establishment has now a reducing valve so that steam can be admitted to
the cooking pots at a prearranged and controlled pressure, which makes for steady
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