55 



sion on this subject and claimed some little credit for 

 having assisted in obtaining the appointment of the Royal 

 Commission. Having given his own evidence he waited a 

 short time to hear the evidence of the next witness ; he was 

 a professional fisherman, and in answer to questions, he said 

 he had not for a long time fished in the Thames above 

 Gravesend, but in former times he used to fish up to Bat- 

 tersea Bridge ; he did not do so now because he could not 

 find any fish. That was conclusive evidence as to the 

 effect of sewage in the river, and he apprehended it was 

 the experience of every one who knew anything about 

 fishing that where sewage was introduced in any quantity it 

 would seriously interfere with the growth and production of 

 fish. On the second question, that which affected the health, 

 he had stated in evidence that he could smell the noxious 

 vapours which arose from the river at a distance of three 

 miles ; and that he could distinguish it as clearly from 

 other smells, such as those which arose from a manure 

 manufactory in the neighbourhood, as he could distinguish 

 the smell of a boiled onion from that of a boiled potato. 

 He had observed for the last twenty years that when 

 the wind blew from the north-east, the direction of Cross- 

 ness towards Plumstead and Woolwich, the health of 

 the inhabitants gradually fell, and when it changed their 

 health improved. This had become quite a byword 

 amongst the people. At certain seasons, partly in March 

 and October, when the north-east wind blew, there were 

 certain states of health generally manifested, not exactly 

 sickness of any decided kind, but the whole life seemed to 

 be below par a loss of appetite and lassitude ; and when 

 they went to a doctor he almost invariably gave them 

 quinine. But as soon as the wind changed to the south or 

 west, all this was corrected. He did not suppose there 



