Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-10
DistricfStartsAction
On She||fish Control
Public Hearing
On Regulations
Set October IA

Set October ID
The District today took a
Ilrst step toward Tightening the
city's now almost non-existent
control over shellfish handling.
A public hearing on a. new
set Of proposed shellflsh regu-
lations was scheduled by the
Commissioners for 10 am. Oc-
tober IA.
The proposed regulations,
drafted by the Health Depart
ment, are designed to meet re-
cent Public Health Service
of unsanitary shellfish
handling. The Districts own
Municipal Fish Wharf was
cited as one of the prime Of
tenders.
For the first time, under the
new rules, the city would re-
quire all oyster. clam and mus
sci shuckers and packers to be
licensed. The rules also pro-
vide for strict inspection Of
shucking and packing facilities.
Only City Uncertifled
The District is the only major
community with waterfront
fish-handling facilities which is
now uncertified under a ma
tional Public Health Service
shellflsh control program.
Shellfish handling in the city
is now practically unregulated.
according to city officials. Will
liam H. Cary. director of the
Health Departments bureau of
food and public health en-
cheering. said this constitutes
an invitation to epidemics, al
though in recent years he said
the city has been fortunate
enough to escape one.
The national shellfish con-
troll program was an outgrowth
OF q serious typhoid epidemic
traced to infected oysters in
1925. Mr.. Cary said. Since then
most large centers have acted
to meet Federal standards. but
the District has not done so.
The District was severely
criticized by the Public Health
Service as recently as last
spring, when the Federal
agency made its latest survey
here, Mr.. Cary said. The Cap
ital received a score of 25.7
points out of a possible 100.
The Public Health Service re-
quires a minimum of 70 for
Federal certAication, and rec
ommends a standard of at
least 80.
Fail to Meet Standards
The municipal wharf. on
Maine avenue. provides shuck-
ing and packing facilities for
private operators. These facii-
ties. Mr.. Cary said, long have
failed to meet proper health
standards. The city also is
failing to police conditions on
the boats which bring the
shellfish to the city. he said.
The present fish wharf is
due to be dislodged by the
new Southwest freeway now
under construction, and plans
have not yet been completed
for replacing it. But, presum-
ably, any future wharf will
have facilities up to standard,
the health official said, as ven
as probably full-time Health
Department supervision. There
is no such supervision at the
present time.
The proposed new shellish
code forbids importation Of
any oysters, clans or mussels
into the city except from ship.
pers certified by the United
States or Canadian govern
ments and approved by the
District health director.
The code also sets up strict
rules designed to safeguard
against contamination from
improper handling or storage.
or adulteration by contact With
foreign substances. The health
director would have power to
condemn. seize and destroy
adulterated shellfish.
Opposed by Boat Owners
Packers and shippers would
be required to have annual
permits subject to suspension
for health violations, and to
keep complete records showing
where and when shellflsh we're
obtained and the names and
addresses of those to whom
they were sold.
Some opposition to the pro-
posed breakdown already has
been voiced by boat owners
from Maryland and Virginia,
according to Mr.. Cary. But
he said there has been none
from Washington restaurants
and dealers.
Restaurants, under the pro-
posed rules. would not be re-
quired to have the new shell.
fish permits as long as they
had a regular restaurant Ii