190 AGRICLLTLRK OF MAINE. 



action has been intimated, they liave been reminded of the ex- 

 istence of another clause and section of the sanie chapter, pro- 

 viding that food shall be deemed adulterated "if in its manu- 

 facture, sale, distribution, or transportation, it is not at all 

 times s'ecurely protected from filth, flies, dust, or other con- 

 tamination, or unclean, unhealthful or unsanitary conditions." 

 With this clause in evidence, iit would be hard to accomplish 

 the sale of these (products without the violation of this ,part of 

 the act, and the discontinuance of wraj^ping bread or butter is 

 strongly advised against. 



Among other articles found by the inspectors to be mis- 

 branded — that is, not bearing the language announcing the 

 quantity of the contents plainly and conspicuously — are numer- 

 ous brands of confectionery, figs, jelly, honey, potato chips, and 

 several kinds of canned fis'h including mackerel, tuna, clams and 

 oysters. It has been necesisary to write to the various violators, 

 calling their attention to the absence of proper branding and 

 also defining carefully the meaning and intent of tlie statute. 



Many inquiries have been received through correspondence, 

 and also personally made to the inspe:tor^., as to the interpre- 

 tation of the statute providing for the marking of packages of 

 food sold from *bulk, and the usuail advice given has been that 

 it was not considered the intent of the law to require articles 

 vv^eighed and wrapped under the observation of the purchaser 

 to bear the marks showing the quantity of the contents. Deal- 

 ers 'have been informed, however, that if goods sold from bulk 

 packages were weighed and wrapped not under the observation 

 of the customer, the articles so treated must bear the marks 

 denoting the quantity of the contents in conformity with the 

 law. 



Numerous phases of the law are yet to be decided and, owning 

 to the meager knowledge at our command for establisliing tol- 

 erances in justice, such rulings for tolerances and variations 

 liave not as yet been established. It miight be well to state that 

 numerous experiments and careful investigations are being 

 conducted by the Federal bureau along these lines and it is 

 hoped that correct information and valuable assistance may be 

 given when the esta;blishment of such regulations becomes a 

 necessitv. 



