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"THE THREATENED DESTRUCTION OF THE
ESSEX OYSTER CULTURE."
WE are very glad to be able to put on record that the danger to the
Essex oyster culture, and to the marine fauna and flora of our
coasts, so fully set forth by Mr. Rome in his paper under the above
title (ante, pp. 41-50), has been, for the time, averted. The proposal
created the greatest alarm and consternation in Essex, and meetings
have been held at Burnham, Leigh and Southend, at which strong
protests against the scheme were passed. At the latter place, a series
of resolutions were agreed to, appointing a committee to watch the
proceedings, and authorizing the presentation of a strongly worded
petition to the London County Council protesting against the scheme.
The chairman and vice-chairman of the committee, Major F. C.
Rasch, M.P., and Mr. Lloyd Wise, C.C, have since reported as fol-
lows :—
" The memorial adopted at the public meeting recently held at Southend was
duly forwarded to the London County Council, and we are glad to be able to
state that letters have since been received from the Clerk of the Council, which,
in our judgment, will enable the proposed deputation to be dispensed with for the
present, in so far as regards the question of depositing sewage sludge or refuse on
Canvey Island, or on land near there. At the same time we are strongly of
opinion that the action of the London County Council, and of others, with respect
to the disposal of the London sewage and refuse, will need to be as closely watched
as ever, not only in the interest of the people of Southend, but likewise in that of
the inhabitants of other parts of the county; and that the efforts of all to pre-
pare for prompt and decisive action, which may have to be taken at any moment,
should not be in the slightest degree relaxed."
We trust that all having the interests of our county at heart,
whether as naturalists or otherwise, will remember and act upon, as
necessity arises, the pertinent advice above given. Mr. Lloyd Wise
has received a letter from an anonymous correspondent, containing
some interesting information, which may be here quoted :—
" I have read with much concern what is reported in the newspapers regarding
the London sewage, and am of opinion that if Sir R. Rawlinson had been East
Essex's worst enemy, he could not have better distinguished himself than by lay-
ing down the line he has—the effect of which, if adopted, would, as it seems to
me, be to create the greatest possible nuisance and do the maximum of damage to
the south-east of Essex.
" I have been acquainted with the county all my life, and remember that about
thirty-five years ago a project for the removal to the North Sea of the London
sewage was promoted by the late Sir Morton Peto, Bart., and the late John