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248
1907]
The returns of the last four years show that the number of animals
annually slaughtered in Islington is decreasing. This is due to the fact that
butchers are dealing more largely either in cattle killed at Deptford or elsewhere,
or in chilled or frozen meat, especially sheep and lambs.
The following figures from the returns for 1904, 1905, 1906 and 1907
are interesting, and fullv bear out the statement that has just been made:—
Animals killed.
1904.
1905.
1906.
1907.
Oxen
2,360
2,195
2,172
2,146
Cows
4
17
—
4
Calves
154
127
143
142
Sheep
32,973
30,686
30,668
24,380
Pigs
25
48
11
2
35,516
33,073
32,994
26,674
I have again to draw attention to the small number of cows killed in
Islington, which in 1907 numbered only 4, whereas in former years the number
was very large, amounting to as many as 698 in 1900, 414 in 1901, 498 in 1902,
173 in 1903, and to the numbers shown above in the remaining years to date.
Inspector Wilkinson points out, and the Medical Officer of Health can
support him in the statement, that the animals slaughtered in the Borough
were prime, and would bear most favourable comparison with those killed in
any other district in the kingdom, which shows that the proprietors of
slaughterhouses, if not so numerous as 20 years ago, still continue to sell good
and wholesome meat.
It has sometimes been asked, how is it possible for an Inspector to see
all these animals slaughtered ? The answer is that he docs not see them all
slaughtered, nor if half a dozen Inspectors were employed could they do so,
but by visiting the slaughterhouses at various times and as quickly as possible
after slaughtering has taken place, the Inspector is able to see the largest
number of the carcases.
The following is a list of the licensed slaughterhouses in Islington.