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Enquiries elicited the information that there bad been refrigeration trouble during the voyage,
resulting in fluctuating temperature.
On the 27th July, the quantity of mouldy and decomposed carcases and offal increased to an
extent when it was deemed expedient to order the contents of No. 5 Lower Hold to be sent to
No. 7 P.L.A. Cold Store. The conveyance to the cold store over the next two days was made by
insulated lighters, some 12,233 carcases being moved.
On the 28th July, it was evident that the contents of No. 3 Lower Hold was in the same
condition as No. 5 Lower Hold, so the meat from this space was ordered to No. 6 P.L.A. Cold
Store. The conveyance to store over the next two days was by road transport, some 17,604 carcases
and 802 bags of offals being moved.
Sorting of the carcases in No. 7 store commenced on the 5th August, and was completed on
31st, when 735 had been rejected for condemnation or reconditioning.
Sorting of the carcases in No. 6 Store was commenced on the 17th August and was completed
by the 29th, when 5,800 had been rejected for condemnation or reconditioning.
After each day's sorting the sound carcases were released and removed by the Importers.
The rejected carcases at No. 7 store were removed to No. 6 Store to be dealt with by the Port
Health Authority.
Reconditioning of the 6,535 carcases and offal at No. 6 Store commenced on the 27th August,
the operation being completed by 24th September.
The result of the reconditioning resulted in the condemnation of 5 tons l cwt. 2qrs. and 8 lbs.
livers, hearts and kidneys, and 44 tons 19 cwt. 3 qrs. 12 lbs. lamb carcases and parts of carcases,
the total weightof meat sent to the Corporation contractor being 50tons 1 cwt. 1 qr. 20 lbs.
The sorting and reconditioning was done under the supervision of Mr. P.W. Coombe, Senior
Port Health Inspector, and Mr. W.M. Walker, Cold Store Inspector, with Mr. Simmons, Meat Watcher,
giving valuable assistance at the ship's side. The work necessitated every single carcase and
bag of offal being examined by your Officers.
Throughout the operation the fullest assistance and co-operation was received from the
Senior Traffic Officer, Meat Department, P.L.A. and his staff, and the Importers themselves.
ARSENIC CONTAMINATION OF CARGO
Bound for London, the s.s. "Arcadia" called at Marseilles where she loaded 449 drums
Arseneous Acid (AS2O3). This is a normal cargo, consisting of a fine white powder packed
in steel drums.
During loading, one set was accidentally dropped, some of the drums burst, and a considerable
quantity of the chemical was spread over the cargo lying in the hold.
Although an attempt had been made by the French Stevedores to remove as much of the
contamination as possible, a considerable amount still remained when the ship arrived at Tilbury
and, on the advice of Mr. D.E. Madeley, the Senior Inspector at Tilbury, gloves and respirators
were issued to the stevedores when working in the hold.
The drums of arsenic were discharged overside into a lighter and the remaining cargo consisting
of leather, skins, wool, canned tomato juice, meat and butter was discharged to No. 33
Shed and isolated from any other cargoes.
On completion of discharge the ship's hold was thoroughly cleansed, and all sweepings
were put in paper sacks for destruction at sea.
DRIED FRUIT CONTAMINATED WITH INSECTICIDE
As an illustration of "behind the scenes" activity which results in a report of "112 cases
dried apricots destroyed" the following may be of interest.
In December, 1958, a vessel arrived at Regent's Canal Dock with a cargo of 1,000 cases
dried apricots, 2,200 bags milk powder and 540 bags insecticide, a number of which were marked
"poisonous", in the same hold.
During discharge of the insecticide, white powder was spilled from leaking bags, several of
which also fell down from the sling, spilling their contents over the undischarged apricots. The
milk powder had already been discharged and during the process some of it had also spilled on
the apricots.
Mr. C.E. Wright, the Port Health Inspector at Regent's Canal Dock, placed the 1,000 cases
of apricots under detention for examination, and samples of powder were collected from cases in
various positions of stowage. The analysis varied according to position of stowage from 600
parts per million D.D.T. (Dicophane) 140 parts per million Copper (in compound form), to D.D.T.
(Dicophane) 94%, and oat flour and milk powder 6%.
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