View report page

Even then the many opportunities for the contamination of the cockles or for the growth of
organisms already present in the cockles, during distribution to the retail shops and stalls and the
conservation of unconsumed cockles under appropriate refrigerated conditions has still to be taken
into account before a really safe and sound cockle can be offered to the public.
In this connection there are many problems still to be solved. Vendors of cockles must be in
anticipation of demand and if their cockles are to be sound and wholesome they must keep a sharp
look-out on weather conditions. Inclement weather in the early morning at the week-end may cause
thousands of visitors to change their minds and postpone their trip to the coast with the result that
the cockier finds himself with a considerable stock of cockles unconsumed at the end of the day and
it is too much to expect him to discard these in favour of fresh cockles ordered for the next day.
Properly speaking, these cockles should be kept in a refrigerator at a temperature sufficiently low to
prevent the growth of organisms, much less decomposition, and indeed cockles should remain in the
cold up to a point as near as possible to the estimated time of their consumption. To take them out
of the refrigerator for some hours on a hot day and then to return them to the refrigerator unconsumed,
is not sound hygienic practice. It is not only an excessive number of organisms in cockles
that may produce gastro intestinal disturbance but also the poisons that they excrete and the latter
are in no way affected by refrigeration.
Fortunately great improvements have been achieved in recent years and offer a much greater
security against the consumption of unwholesome cockles. On the other hand it is not so easy to
improve the habits of the consumer who arrives at, say, Southend on a hot day and proceeds to
consume quantities of liquid refreshment with which he mixes his cockles. He then betakes himself
to the beach, undresses and lies with his body exposed to the hot sun, returning from time to time
to the "Promenade" for more liquid refreshment and more cockles. Later in the day he feels agrieved
because his interior arrangements protest and, may be, in such a manner as seriously to disrupt the
pleasure of his day at the seaside and of the drive home.
SMOKE ABATEMENTS.
Vigilance has been maintained during the year in order to suppress instances of atmospheric
pollution in the Port. Each district has been kept under surveillance but particular attention has
been concentrated on the Middle and Upper reaches where any stream of smoke is most likely to offend
the riverside population directly.
At present the Authority has no bye-laws governing the content, density, colour and time factor,
therefore the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, are applied, while reference is made
to the time standard laid down by the London County Council bye-laws for purposes of observation.
To some extent this adoption is necessary if the Authority and the London County Council are to
function harmoniously.
By this standard an offence is committed when black smoke is emitted for a period of two minutes
in the aggregate during any continuous period of 30 minutes observation.
The nature of offensive smoke is defined in the Act and for sea-going ships only black smoke is
considered, whereas all other vessels fall into the category where smoke includes soot, ash, grit and
gritty particles.
Comparatively few offenders are found among the larger sea-going ships while lying at the cargo
berths and this is due in part to the use of shore installations for lifting the cargoes, thereby considerably
reducing the load on the boiler. There are times however, when ships are raising steam for
departure when a certain amount of black smoke may be emitted and calls for attention. Sometimes
the boiler tubes are cleared of ash and soot by means of steam jets or compressed air during the
hours of darkness and the immediate surroundings of the ship's funnel are covered with the deposits.
Fortunately, this is becoming an infrequent occurrence. Usually, the sea-going ships respond forthwith
to the advice or intervention of the Inspectors.
Some difficulty has occasionally arisen with coastwise steamers which ply in the Upper district.
Unless the fires are bright and a full head of steam is available when the ship leaves her berth on the
outward voyage, it may be necessary to stoke the furnaces before the ship has cleared the Thames
bridges. When such an incident occurs, and more so when the stoking is inefficient, large volumes
of smoke invariably cause a nuisance to residents of the riverside and pedestrians who are crossing
the bridges. This nuisance has been a feature of the tugs, but has now been considerably reduced.
Many of the offending craft have outlived any days of efficiency and some complaints of low-grade
fuel supplies are offered as a defence. The fuel burned by many hand-fired furnaces is undoubtedly
quite unsuitable if smoke nuisance is to be avoided. Only hard grade boiler fuel comparable to the
anthracite group should be used.
In spite of the various handicaps, satisfactory progress has accrued as a result of the representations
made at official level and direct approach to the stokers. Not all relations with officials are
founded on formal notifications. Understanding and co-operation have developed from personal
interviews and discussions.
The trend to replace old steam-driven vessels with motorships is helping to solve the smoke
problem, but the vessel which continues to burn bituminous coal of a low grade in a hand-fired furnace
will invariably cause a smoke nuisance, especially the vessel with a fluctuating demand for steam.
The fault by no means lies invariably with the Tugmaster who often has great difficulty in getting
an appropriate allocation of hard steam coal from the Ministry of Fuel and Power, and I have refused
to prosecute when such is the case.
SECTION XV—Medical Inspection of Aliens.
1. List of Medical Inspectors of Aliens holding warrants of appointment.
Dr. M. T. Morgan ; Dr. H. M. Willoughby ; Dr. J. A. Jones ; Dr. R. D. McLean.
2. List of other staff engaged on this work.
Clerical staff at the Central Office.
3. Organisation of work.
The inspection of ahens is carried out in accordance with the terms of the Alien Order, 1920.
17