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12
It will be in your remembrance that, upon the 22nd September (in
consequence of a complaint made), a resolution was passed that the
premises in question should be visited without previous intimation to the
proprietor, at the hour when the nuisance was said to be at its worst, viz.,
midnight. This was done on September 26th, with the following
result:—
In accordance with a resolution, passed at the mooting of the 22nd September, the
Committee assembled in Peel Grove with a view of making themselves better acquainted
with the nature and extent of the alleged Fish Curing Nuisance in that neighbourhood,
the weather on the occasion being favourable for the purpose.
Having waited some time in the immediate neighbourhood in order, if possible, to
detect the presence of smoke, or other offensive effluvia, they proceeded to inspect the
premises of Mr. Cushway, the process of Fish Curing being then in full operation. It
was stated by the foreman in charge that 70 barrels, each containing about 600 herrings,
or a total of 42,000, were being cured at the time.
The foreman further explained that the curing commenced at about six o'clook in the
evening, and continued till twelve o'clock at night, the only material used in the preparation
being the stumps of oak trees, which were placed upon the ground and lighted
about that time, the smoke being allowed to escape gradually the whole of the time, but
not in one dense body at the close of the process; and that the Committee saw on this
occasion a fair specimen of how the business was usually carried on. The Committee,
after deliberating for some time,
Resolved—" That a meeting be convened for Tuesday, tho 13th Octobcr, at 3
p.m., to consider and report as to the result of their visit."
Special Meeting of the Sanitary Committee, Midnight, October 13th, 1871.
Present—Messrs. Jacobs, Beale, Attwell, Smither, Cook, jun., Owen, Ward, and Ames;
also, Dr. Sarvis; Inspectors W. W, Burrows, J. W. Burrows, and J. Lapworth were
present.
The Committee again viewed the premises of Mr. Cushway, of Peel Greve, and took
careful note of the process and its apparent effects, and the further consideration of the
matter was adjourned to the 17th inst.
October 17th, 1871.—At the Meeting of the Sanitary Committee, it was moved by
Mr. Owen, seconded by Mr. Attwell, and carried unanimously,—
"That the question of the Fish Curing or Smoking Factory in Peel Grove having
been referred to the Committee, we have given it our fullest consideration
and attention. We have made two midnight visits, quite unexpected by the
proprietor, and on each occasion have carefully examined the premises and
their surroundings—the result of our investigation is, that the process of
Fish Curing as carried on by Mr. Cushway does not create a nuisance of such
a nature as to call for the legal interference of the Vestry."