44 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



method" of control could well be used, whereby suspicious ani- 

 mals are secluded and retested after a certain period. Surely, 

 such a method is fair and might mean the saving of valuable 

 animals when the result of the tests is not exactly convincing. 



Many inquiries have been made as to whether the testing 

 of cattle for tuberculosis is compulsory by the state. In pro- 

 tecting live stock interests and preventing the transmission of 

 disease from animal to animal, we have a law governing the 

 transportation of pure bred stock, but none as regards grade 

 stock except in interstate shipments. Pure bred live stock inter- 

 ests have taken measures for protecting themselves and, as a 

 health measure, it might be well to consider all grades of dairy 

 animals. The principal argument against such protective health 

 legislation has been the fact that the appraised value would be 

 too much to pay. Even if this were true, the health and pro- 

 tection of the people of the state would be far more valuable 

 than any money expended for the disposal of diseased animals. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



The following recommendations are made to you as the result 

 of nearly four years' w^ork in the ofifice and after being in contact 

 with all phases of the dairy situation in this state; they are 

 made in the spirit only of bettering existing conditions and 

 procuring for the public a more sanitary product : 



Licenses. 



The present system of registration of milk dealers consists 

 of a few questions being answered on an application blank and 

 provides for no inspection of conditions before the certificate 

 is issued. This registration exempts creamery patrons. A 

 license system whereby all persons having to do with the sale of 

 milk are required to reach a certain standard of cleanliness 

 before engaging in the milk business, and the revoking of that 

 license if conditions become poor, should be adopted. At 

 present anyone, anywhere, can secure a certificate of registra- 

 tion and, as the expense is too great, no inspection is made 

 unless a complaint is received. A small fee required for a 

 license will provide for some inspection and the license will 

 serve as a token of reward for cleanly conditions which milk 



