27 



very fine specimens of vegetables which had been grown 

 with the aid of manure prepared there, and trusted the 

 process would have a fair trial. 



■ Mr. Webb, who regretted that he had not been in time 

 to hear the paper, spoke at considerable detail of the 

 advantages which he had derived from the use of the 

 manure manufactured by the Aylesbury Company on all 

 kinds of garden produce. 



Mr. Charles E. Fryer thought every one was pretty 

 well agreed that the river was not the proper place for 

 sewage to be put. Various witnesses had been brought 

 forward in support of the view ; there had been some giant 

 potatoes, and enormous turnips, and miraculous cabbages, 

 and other vegetables, but he would venture for a moment 

 to bring forward another witness from the animal world, a 

 fish, and the testimony he referred to was taken from the 

 following extract from the Times : — 



" An interesting capture was made a few days ago off 

 Erith, that is fourteen miles below London-bridge. A 

 sturgeon, floating almost lifeless down the river, was noticed 

 by some of the men belonging to Messrs. Callender's 

 Bitumen and Telegraph Company. When dragged to 

 shore, it had sufficient life in it to spout water out at its 

 captors, but appeared to be nearly suffocated, a fact attri- 

 buted to the sewage which is turned into the Thames at 

 Crossness, about a mile from the works. It is nearly as 

 large as that lately presented to Mr. Parnell, weighing 

 1171b., and is in length 6ft. 3in. It has been two days on 

 view at the Fisheries -Exhibition, but has been removed 

 for a short time for the purpose of stuffing, after which 

 Mr. Callender has kindly consented to restore it to the 

 Exhibition." 



He thought the fish must have come up the river on 



