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68
Sanitary Administration.
In the other shops the mediaeval form of stove is still in use.
These stoves are built of brick with the cast iron pans set in
the top, the fire opening being either at the ends or in front.
The top of the stove is generally covered with zinc.
About two or three feet above the pans there is a fantasticshaped
canopy, with one or two gas jets inside, the purpose of the
canopy is to carry off the steam and vapour through a hole opening
into the chimney Hue. Contrary to theory, only a small percentage
of steam is actually carried into the flue, as evidenced by the amount
of steam which can be seen escaping into the shop. In the majority
of cases side screens are not fixed, so that the function of the
canopy is interfered with through draughts.
Although that portion of the stove which is seen is kept fairly
clean, it has been repeatedly found that the inside of the canopy is
in a foul condition, it is also found that unsold fish and potatoes
are left unprotected on the top of the stove, the result, in summer,
being that the room swarms with flies.
Ac two shops cotton-seed oil is used. It is considered by some
of the trade to be more economical, as, when heated, it is more
liquid, and consequently drains off the fish quicker. Nuisance will
arise from the use of cotton-seed oil if the stale oil is not removed
frequently. The practice obtains of adding fresh oil to the pan as
occasion demands, so that the stale oil is never entirely removed.
In the other shops dripping is the frying medium used, and is
of varying qualities. This medium does not, however, give rise
to such an effluvium nuisance as when cotton-seed oil is used.
The trade of fish fryer is now governed by bye-laws, and under
them the provision of modern stoves in lieu of the old pattern open
stoves could be insisted upon.
The principle adopted in carrying out the bye-laws is an
educative one. It is one the results of which are not seen in twelve