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19
A vessel comes alongside the quay, filled with pads (or baskets) of
various kinds of fish; or a railway van conveys it to the place of sale.
Men in the employ of the consignees unload the vessel or the van, and
the sale commences. One or more pads are put up at a time, until
a purchaser is found; so that the fish so sold is never seen either by
the seller or the buyer, and without being examined by the inspector.
Until the fish arrives at the house of the purchaser, he is in total ignorance
of the utter worthlessness of his bargain; although the odour
emitted from some of these pads, which I have frequently inspected very
soon after their arrival, should have warned them very pungently
of what they might not unreasonably expect upon opening the hidden
treasure. Occasionally some few sound fish would be found at the
top, but so impregnated with disgusting effluvia as to render them
unfit for domestic use. When this fish was returned upon the hands of
the salesman, the money was frequently refused to be refunded, or the
parties had disappeared for the day; so that the loss to the purchaser
was often considerable.
Under these circumstances a plan was organized whereby the public
could be protected from the danger of such unwholesome food, and,
at the same time, by prompt condemnation of the article in official character
and form, ensure the refunding of the cash to the buyer, and thereby
destroy entirely the strong temptation to lessen his loss by the sale of
impure fish.
I annex a form of certificate adopted, and am happy to say that in
no case has repayment been refused, no loss sustained by a large class of
industrious citizens, and the public at large shielded from harm.
SAINT MATTHEW, BETHNAL GREEN.
Sanitary Department.
No. Vestry Hall, Church Row.
...18
I hereby Certify that I have this day examined...
...in the possession ofresiding at
...and that the said...are in a...
state, and unfit for the food of man.
...M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.