254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



During the prevalence of the contagion, applications were 

 frequently made to the Commissioners for remuneration by the 

 State for the various losses which individuals had suffered by it, 

 showing a great misapprehension in the community respecting 

 the powers and duties of the Board, and the purpose for which 

 it is appointed. The law creating and denning the duties of the 

 " Commissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle," was 

 clearly intended to guard the community from the spread of 

 contagious disease, and ample power was given the Board, so 

 that in extreme cases, if it was necessary, in order to stop con- 

 tagion, healthy but infected cattle might be slaughtered at the 

 expense of the State ; but not to pay for cattle dying of disease, 

 the expenses of their sickness, or the incidental losses it might 

 occasion. Entertaining this opinion, the Commissioners have 

 refused any remuneration to sufferers, though their losses have 

 been disastrous. With the exception of the disease referred to, 

 the herds of the Commonwealth have, during the year, been 

 healthy, and our great interests in cattle and their products 

 have been prosperous. 



Levi Stockbridge, 

 E. F. Thayer, 

 H. W. Jordan, 



Commissioners on Contagious Diseases among Cattle. 

 Boston, Dec. 29, 1871. 



ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD. 



The Board met at the office of the Secretary in Boston, on 

 Monday, the 5th of February, at twelve o'clock, His Excellency, 

 Gov. Washburn, in the chair. 



Present — Messrs. Allis, Baker, Bradford, Bucklin, Davis, 

 Fearing, Goodman, Hubbard, Hyde, Johnson, Knowlton, Ladd, 

 Loring, Moore, Peck, Saltonstall, Slade, Stockbridge, Stone, 

 Ward, Washburn and Wilder. 



The records of the last annual meeting were read and 

 accepted. 



Messrs. Wilder, Saltonstall and Goodman were appointed a 

 committee upon the order of business. 



On motion of Mr. Davis it was 



Voted, That upon all hearings upon applications for a change 

 of time for holding Annual Fairs of an Agricultural Society, 



