REPORT OF STATE DAIRY INSPECTOR. 33 



process from skim-milk and butter and a rigorous inspection of 

 these constituents must be practiced because of the possibiHty of 

 substitutes for butter being used. 



During the extremely hot weather in July, milk became a 

 very scarce article and in quite a few instances samples con- 

 taining added water were secured. By your advice prosecution 

 was withheld and an effort made to trace the poor milk back 

 to its source. Accordingly letters stating that help would be 

 given were sent to ten Portland violators who purchase most of 

 their milk. With a little help on their part I was able to trace 

 8 of the lo cases to the places where the*^ received it from the 

 express companies. Being assured that a prosecution was possi- 

 ble, I brought complaint against the farmers who shipped thd 

 milk. 



Unfortunately for all concerned, the cans in which the milk 

 was shipped were not sealed, making it possible for the milk 

 to be changed after it left the farmer and before it was received 

 by the dealers. As the express company from whom the milk 

 was taken were not agents for the farmer, it is plainly seen that 

 the poor milk could not be traced to the producer. 



Unwarranted criticism appeared at the time in the Portland 

 papers but as it was based upon direct misstatements and con- 

 tained no signature, I did not deem it necessary to reply other 

 than to state my position and to correct the misstatements made. 



It has been proven to my satisfaction that milk dealers are 

 at the mercy of farmers and others selling them milk during 

 the short season. It also has been proven that there is a decided 

 lack of activity on the part of the milk dealers to find out 

 for themselves just what they are receiving and if they do find 

 out they will not inform this office that they wish help. Their 

 excuse is that they must have milk and that if trouble comes 

 to the producer he will cut them ofif. In the past year requests 

 for help have been received from eight wholesale receivers of 

 milk in Pittsfield, Skowhegan, Newport, Saco, Scarboro, South 

 Portland and Portland, and in each instance the poor milk was 

 traced to its source with resulting prosecutions. It is the inten- 

 tion of this Department to help all dealers who suspect that 

 they are buying watered or otherwise impure milk, but unless 

 the dealer shows activity in his own behalf and sends a request 



