90 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



cases relating to fish, of which all but 4 were based upon the unfit- 

 ness of the fish, at the time of sale, for human consumption, the 

 remaining- 4 being based upon the additicm of red coloring matter, 

 for the purpose of deceiNing tlie purchaser as to the nature of the 

 fish. The examinations included those of IG samples of canned oysters 

 and 80 samples of fresh oysters. The cases terminated related to 15 

 samples of oysters adulterated, usually, by the inclusion of excessive 

 quantities of water, introduced either as ice packed directly in con- 

 tact with the oysters, or by the "floating" of the oyster before its 

 removal from the shell. The limits of coni])osition adopted by the 

 chemists of the Bureau as the l)asis of their judgment as to the pres- 

 ence or absence of excessive water, are those adopted by the United 

 States government for the same purpose, and were based upon ex- 

 tensive examinations of ovsters under the various customarv con- 

 ditions of production. 



The intention of the Bureau to adopt this basis of judgment was 

 duly announced to the oyster trade, in the form of a regulation, in 

 ample time to enable the shippers and dealers to arrange their prac- 

 tice so as to meet the requirements of the law, as it Avas interpreted 

 by the Bureau, and later by the courts. The cases of adulteration 

 of the character above described correspond to nearly 20 per cent, 

 of the samples of fresh oysters examined. These figures make it 

 evident that this protective measure was greatly needed for the 

 safety of the consumer. 



LARD 



There were analyzed during the past year 98 samples of lard, com- 

 pound lard and lard substitutes, and during the same period lo cases 

 were terminated for violation of the lard act of 1909. The findings 

 upon which the charges in these cases were based were quite various, 

 the greater number being due to the presence of added beef stearin. 

 In one case it was found that the material was composed largely of 

 cotton seed oil, or a product thereof, and in 2 cases relating to com- 

 pound lard, it was found that one sample contained less than 50 per 

 cent, of lard, while the other contained no swine fat at all. Thes^e 

 figures indicate that the usual forms of adulteration of this 7)roduct 

 are continuing in about the same volume as during recent years, 

 although in very much smaller proportion than when the work of the 

 Bureau upon this product was begun. 



EGGS 



The chemists of the Bureau examined in 1911 95 samples of eggs, 

 dried, fluid and in the shell, and during the year there were 31 cases 

 terminated for the sale, or having in possession with intent to sell, 

 or the use for food manufacturing purposes of eggs, in one or other of 

 the forms above mentioned, unfit for food. As in the preceding 

 years since the passage of the egg act of 1909, due care has been 

 taken to institute cases only where the facts could not be accounted 

 for by the percentage of spoilage fiequently found Adhere proper 

 methods of handling and prompt sale are maintained. It may be 

 remarked that the major portion of these cases developed in the more 

 thickly settled communities of the State, and that while the very 

 large percentage of condemnations in proportion to the number of 



