REPORT DEPUTY STATE SEALER OF WEIGHTS & MEASURES. I3T 



was getting full measure or less. Quite early in the season we 

 received complaints that the produce bought in boxes in certain 

 instances did not hold the numlber of pounds for which they 

 paid. This question was taken up with the produce dealers 

 with a view of correcting the error which had been in exist- 

 ence for some time in our state. The campaign against short 

 boxes is sure to be quite trying and to eliminate entirely from 

 our state would require much labor and expense. 



An investigation of that condition shows that produce would 

 be shipped from other states in short boxes and dealers here 

 would sell it as they bought it. As far as our means would 

 allow, the bureau of weights and measures has done what it 

 could to protect the public and to see that the people receive 

 what they pay for. 



Many dealers in this state have notified foreign shippers 

 that produce shipped to them in boxes must comply with our 

 law and that no short boxes would be received. I feel safe in 

 saying that the use of short boxes has been greatly reduced 

 by the refusal of our wholesale dealers to receive them. 



Owing to the fact that no appropriation has been available 

 to carry on, the work of this bureau, I have been obliged to 

 neglect a large part of the work which should have been done. 

 Complaints came to us in early fall by producers of corn for 

 canning purposes that the weighing devices used in these can- 

 ning industries m very many cases had not been inspected and 

 sealed. There are one hundred and fifteen of these shops and 

 we were able to visit but twelve of them. The appearance of 

 a state sealer or inspector of weights and measures was to 

 them a great surprise. Of the twelve shops visited, five of 

 them had taken the precaution to have their scales tested. 

 Many of the large platform scales at those shops were set in 

 such a manner that even a mild gust of wind would effect the 

 sensibility of the scale. A little suggestion on behalf of your 

 deputy that they be protected will, I think, bring good results 

 along that line. The work of inspecting the corn canning 

 shops should be carried on another season. 



In the past season I visited two hundred and twenty-seven 

 towns and cities for the purpose of inspection. A large number 

 of these visits have been made at the request of merchants. I 

 have visited the following state institutions for the purpose of 



