SUMMARY: A named strain of each of the species Photobacterium phosphoreum, P . fischeri, P . albensis, P . pierantonii, P . splendidurn, P . sepia and P . hameyi, together with a recently isolated strain of each of the first two named species, were studied in an attempt to elucidate their correct generic classification. On the basis of morphology, sensitivity to certain antibiotics and a vibriostatic substance, and method of dissimilation of carbohydrates, it was concluded that P . sepia and P. harveyi should be classified in the genus Aeromonas, and the remainder of the species in the genus Vibrio.

The cleaning efficiency of hosing wooden market fish boxes with cold water, the usual commercial practice, was very low, even when high pressure jets were used. After washing, the internal surfaces could still carry up to 20 x 10' bacteria/cm*. Even prolonged steaming failed to sterilize the surfaces. Coryneform organisms accounted for over 50% of the total bacterial flora, although these have usually been reported as present in only low proportions on both fresh and spoiling fish. The major subsidiary groups were species of AchrcnmbacCer and Peeudomonaa, constituting about 18% and 14% of the population respectively. A few micrococci and flavobacteria, were also present.The conditions of counting, i.e. whether roll tubes or Petri dishes were used, whether incubation was at 0'. 20' or 37", and whether the media were based on sea or tap water, could markedly influence both the magnitude of the count and the proportions of the different types of bacteria which could be isolated.

SUMMARY: An investigation of the effect of various sanitizers, including kinds containing hypo‐chlorite, formaldehyde and quaternary ammonium compounds, alone and with detergents, and of a nonionic detergent alone, on the cleanability by various methods of commercial wooden fish boxes, showed that no major reductions in viable counts greater than 99·9% could be expected; this was due presumably to the high degree of contamination of the box and the porous nature of the wood. Of the materials investigated, hypochlorite solutions containing not less than 1,000 p/m of free chlorine and the quaternary ammonium compounds in 0·1–1% concentrations were most satisfactory. The implications of these investigations, to the fish industry in particular and to the cleanability of wooden surfaces in general, are discussed.

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SUMMARY Plate counts at 20° on the skin and flesh of distant water cod landed at Hull were within the ranges 4·2 × 103–3°6 × 107/cm2 and 2·3 × 103–2·4 × 106/g, respectively, with median values of approximately 106/cm2 and 105/g. The counts at 37° were considerably lower. A light but general contamination of the fish with Escherichia coli I and the presence of occasional coagulase positive staphylococci were observed. Organisms of the salmonella‐shigella groups were not detected. Pseudomonas and Achromobacter were the dominant genera and formed from 4% to 84%, and 3% to 65% of the total flora, respectively. Corynebacteria were usually present and in one case constituted 50% of the flesh flora. The significance of these findings in relation to proposed bacteriological standards for cleanliness of perishable foods and to the spoilage of fish is discussed.