Docking Union.—Decrease. Task, pumping the well and working on the land.
Freebridge Lynn.—September, 1904, only 4 men. Task, oakum picking. In 1893 the number of vagrants relieved was above 900, but "the tramp of late has given the place a wide berth." Only 24 have been admitted. "Probably the road-army came by another route than Docking and Gayton to the 7-cwt. stone-breaking at Lynn, fighting shy of oakum-picking and well-pumping." But they come, and the decrease in these two unions has resulted in an increase at Downham, Wisbech, and Lynn.
At Thetford "the cells and stone-breaking have prevented any material increase in the number of vagrants."
At Halsted, in spite of oakum-picking, there have been 41 vagrants, compared with 9 in September, 1903.
At Chelmsford there were 205, September, 1904, as against 126, September, 1905.
At Walsingham a slight decrease, owing to oakum picking being enforced.
So great is the pressure, however, that even oakum-picking or stone-breaking and corn-grinding have not prevented a large increase in Maldon, Ipswich, Saffron Walden, Norwich, Dunmow, Swaffham, and Wisbech.
Downham increased from 64, September, 1903, to 167, September, 1904. No task is imposed save gardening.