l88 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Our rqx)rt of tlie milk Lnsi>ectioii work must necessarily be 

 brief, as the bulk of the work accomplished during the year is 

 comprehensively covered in the report of the former tnilk in- 

 spector. 



The Net Weight Law. 



The Net Weight law was passed in 191 3 and statutory pro- 

 vision of enforcement entrusted to the Department of Agricul- 

 ture with other provisions of the Pure Food law; in this way 

 the responsibility was charged to the Bureau of Inspection. 



The law provides that every package of food if sold at a 

 greater price than five cents, shall bear a plain and conspicuous 

 statement on the outside indicating to the consumer the quantity 

 of -the contents. A clause was included in this law providing 

 that no enforcem'ent s-houlld be made until September third, 

 1914, and thus an opportunity was given to canners, packers 

 and manufaaturers of food to change their labels and have 

 rew labels proiperly iprinted. The date selected for the enforce- 

 ment of this law was the same as that on which the Federal 

 Law became effective, namely, September third, 1914. Since 

 that date, throughout the remainder of the year, special en- 

 deavor was made to acquaint the people with the requirements 

 of this acit and to call to their particular attention the commo- 

 dities coming within the scope of the law and advise the proper 

 marking. It seems advisalble to quote for the information of 

 all concerned the d'efinition of "food" as given in section 2 of 

 chapter 199 of the P. L. of 1911, whidh is the definition to be 

 understood as governing the requirements imder section 23 of 

 the same chapter, and reads : 



"The term 'food' as used herein, shall be held to include aW 

 articles, whether simiple, mixed or compound, used for food, 

 drink, confectionery, or condim'ent by man or other animals." 



The work has been largely accomplish'ed by aictual inspection 

 of the stock on hand in the stores visited. Two of the inspec- 

 tors have been employed in this way since the law became 

 effective. The other inspectors of the Bureau, charged with 

 general inspection, were also instructed to note the markings of 

 packages while attending to their other duties. The findings 

 were most interesting and, in general, the spirit in which the 



