Salt meat triers. A skewer-shaped piece of boxwood with knob on end, made from a single piece of wood. Used by the Inspectorate of Ships' Provisions set up in 1892 by the Board of Trade. Instructions to inspectors stated that 'A proportion of the casks [of salt meat] should be drawn and each peice of meat carefully probed with a knife or boxwood peg for preference. The peg, &c. should be carefully smelled after insertion in each piece of meat, the slightest trace of taint being easily detected by this means.' During the inter-war period casks of salt meat were superceded by ice boxes.