320 SEWAGE AND ITS PURIFICATION 



nuisances that have been occasioned in many localities by the 

 presence of foul matter on foreshores and on the banks of tidal 

 rivers. Experience as to the dangers to health has already 

 been given (ante, pp. 170, 172), but apart from this aspect, it is 

 not to the advantage of any local body to be continually in 

 danger of a fine, and large law costs, now^ that the liability has 

 been proved in the Courts, in spite of the almost complete 

 exemption that was granted to tidal waters by the Rivers' 

 Pollution Act of 1876. 



At present in England there exists no authority with powers 

 to prohibit the laying down of shellfish in sewage-polluted 

 water or other dangerous localities, and to ensure the protection 

 of unpolluted layings, storage ponds, fattening beds, and other 

 places where shellfish are laid or stored, against contamination 

 by sewage. The Royal Commission recognise the deficiency, 

 and outline an administrative change to comprise a Central 

 Water Authority with Rivers Boards exercising jurisdiction 

 over separate water sheds, including shores, as an extension of 

 the Rivers Pollution Act of 1876, the new authority to be well 

 equipped for carrying on the necessary scientific work as part 

 of regular duties. (Fourth Report, 1904, vol. i., p. xxv). 



This remedy is practically the same as they have already 

 suggested in the third report for inland towns, and does not, 

 after all, give any immediate answer to any particular offending 

 locality. Until legislation is passed and the new controlling 

 authorities have had years of experience, it wdll still be difficult 

 in many cases to decide how much or how little treatment is 

 required. 



In the case of Rivers Boards having tidal waters under their 

 jurisdiction, the Commissioners think that the Fisheries 

 Committee should be empowered to appoint representatives 

 thereon, and this would transfer to the new board the powers 

 of the Salmon Conservators and other similar bodies. 



The improvement on our coasts that would ensue if good 

 bacterial effluents only were discharged can readily be 

 appreciated. 



The law with reference to the pollution of tidal waters is 

 thus at the present time in a more hopeless condition than that 

 of non-tidal waters. Thus, for example, the Section 17 of the 

 Public Health Act of 1875, under which, in the past, many 

 injunctions have been obtained for prohibiting the discharge of 

 noxious matter into streams, watercourses, canals, ponds, or 



