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" By Mr. Abbott—There are four smoke rooms. The traps are opened to let out the
heat rather than the smoke. The fires in the neighbouring streets produce much more
smoke than there emanates from these premises.
" Mr. Abbott—But the neighbouring houses burn different wood ?
"Dr. Letheby—Certainly they do. They burn wood of a much worse description.
These premises arc simply U3ed for drying the fish—not for smoking them. I should say
with regard to some of the effects complained of by some of the witnesses, that either
their symptoms were monstrously exaggerated, or were due to some other cause. I am
so well acquainted with this sort of thing, that it would have been impossible for anyone
to practise any deception upon me on my visiting the premises.
"By Mr. Williams—The smoke from any wood which is employed by the defendant
is not irritating. I do not think it possible for anyone in the neighbourhood to have had
his room filled with smoke, unless there was some other source for the smoke.
"By the Magistrate—There is not the least smell of fish with the smoke given off—
the smell is just like that of a wood fire in the country.
"Dr. F. Aubin said he entirely agreed with the evidence given by last witness. He
had had considerable experience with respect to these matters; there was nothing
obnoxious or detrimental to health in the vapours issuing from the premises of defendant.
There were fish-curing houses which were offensive ; but those were places where haddocks
were cured, and where the parties employed mahogany and common sawdust, smoke from
which would cause irritation. But nothing of that kind is used at these premisos, which
I consider a perfect model.
"Further evidence of a voluminous character was taken, showing that the business of
Mr. Cushway was so conducted as not to give rise to any smell of an offensive kind from
the fish; and overwhelming evidence was adduced to show that the 6moke complained of
by a convention of old ladies was, in reality, no nuisance at all.
"The Magistrate, in reviewing the evidence before him, said—Dr. Tripe had only
succeeded in raising a suspicion that there was a nuisance ; but the evidence on the other
side was perfectly irresistible, and the summons must therefore be dismissed."—Bethnal
Green Times, April 8, 1871.
I have since frequently visited the premises, and have always found
them clean and in good order, and in consequence of the above decision,
no further legal steps have been taken up to the present time.
WORKSHOPS ACT.
Many workshops have been visited, and our best endeavours have been
used to induce the employers to conform to the regulations of this Act,
and I am happy to say that, in most cases, we have met with success.