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136
UNSOUND FOOD.
The markets have been regularly inspected, and on 31 occasions
the Inspectors have discovered food exposed for sale, which,
in their opinion, was unfit for human food, but not in such a
condition as to warrant seizure. The food chiefly comprised fruit,
which was destroyed by the owner at the suggestion of the
Inspector. There have been 10 consignments of unsound food
surrendered for condemnation as follows:—1 sack mussels, 16
large codfish, carcase of pig, 8½ stone dogfish, 2 boxes small
haddock, 2 stone skate, 2 boxes dogfish, 1 rabbit.
Ten certificates indicating the condition of the food when it
was submitted were given. Great care is exercised to do justice
to the wholesale dealer, as well as the retail purchaser, though it
is an exceedingly difficult problem. It is alleged that dishonest
retailers, having purchased by sample, will substitute bad articles
for the good and submit them for condemnation, while on the
other hand the wholesale merchant submits a sound sample and at
times supplies an unsound article. It is the practice of the office
to take minute details such as time, marks, weights, etc., and
furnish them on certificate.
DAIRIES AND COWSHEDS.
There are six registered cowsheds and 158 registered dairies
in the Borough. During the year 22 were added to the regis'ter.
368 inspections have been made, as compared with 409 for the
previous year for the purpose of seeing that the provisions of the
Dairies and Cowsheds Regulations have been fulfilled, viz.,
cleansing, limewashing, etc. These premises require constant
supervision to keep them up to a standard of efficiency.
In the cowsheds the greatest nuisance is caused by the nonremoval
of the manure from the sheds. In the dairies it is the
cleanliness of the utensils, etc., that requires attention. In comparing
the general condition of cowsheds of to-day and of a few
\ears back there is a decided improvement, but there yet remains
much to be done before wholesome milk is obtainable.