REPORT OF BUREAU OF INSPECTION. 169 



judgment in his recommendations and presented fair and im- 

 partial reports of conditions found, and that the inspector of 

 the federal department who accompanied him was a man well 

 equipped by experience of years in factory inspection and in 

 the examination of food products all over the United States. 

 The work accomplished by these men was harmonious through- 

 out and their attitude fair to all concerned, carefully investi- 

 gating the methods employed and making rather minute in- 

 spection in thirty of the forty-five factories in the state, while 

 practically all of the factories were visited. Detailed reports 

 as to the conditions found were obtained and have been tabu- 

 lated and filed. Space does not afford an opportunity to give 

 a complete report of our findings, but I am enumerating briefly 

 the principal observations : Fish ready to be packed were found 

 in a belly blown condition and in a decomposed state; such 

 fish were condemned and sent to the fertilizer factories; ninety- 

 two hogsheads of fish were condemned in a day at some of 

 the plants. Racks, pens, tables and flakes were found in a 

 dirty condition ; the ceilings of some rooms were dripping upon 

 the tables in the room below; many of the factories were 

 without screens, and the flies were thick; in some places the 

 toilets were not conveniently arranged, many were without 

 facilities for washing, and some factories were not equipped 

 with soap and towels. It is unfortunate that the methods ob- 

 served occasioned particular investigation of the product in 

 the market and, as a result, several thousand cases of sardines 

 have been seized in the last few months. 



From the physical condition of a sardine factory, it is 

 understood that it is not possible to keep such a place in im- 

 maculate condition. It is to be regretted that at first the atti- 

 tude assumed by some of the sardine packers was not exactly 

 amicable and that our intentions, which were not other than 

 friendly and sincerely instituted in their behalf, were mis- 

 judged, but as an acquaintance between the inspectors and 

 packers developed and our real object realized, many of the 

 suggestions were heeded. 



Although we feel that we had sufficient grounds for institut- 

 ing court proceedings and successfully maintaining cases 

 against some of the packers, no prosecutions were made. We 

 did, however, attempt to advise sensibly — carefully avoiding 



