270 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



possibility of iitilizintr by-products that are now wasted or that 

 mux lie utilized in some more satisfactory manner will also be exam- 

 ined. At Pensacohi particular attention will be i)aid to the study 

 of the composition and food value of (nilf fishes and to the best 

 inethods of preparin*; them for transportation and handling them 

 in their passage to the consumer. Studies have been made upon the 

 possibilities of canning frozen fish, and preliminary results seem to 

 indicate that under i)roper precautions this may prove to be feasible. 



Papers have been published under the titles A Chemical Study of 

 Frozen Fi.sh in Storage for Short and Long Periods and The Food of 

 the Small Sea Herring and Ammonia and Amines as End Products of 

 Its Decomposition. Department Bulletin 908, The Maine Sardine 

 Industry, which embodies the results of a number of years' work, is in 

 press. The chemi(;al study of the variation of the food value of 

 shad at different times has been completed. 



In general, the studies upon the handling, cold storage, and trans- 

 portation of fresh fish, described in some detail in the report of the 

 Chemist for 1919, have been continued this year and are producing 

 improvements in the industry. The studies begun last year in con- 

 nection with the spoilage and the flora of fish, particularly of Pacific 

 salmon, have been continued and are described in this report in con- 

 nection witli the general discussion of the bureau's work on food flora, 

 spoilage, and fermentation. 



A study of the trade waste effluents on the York River, which was 

 made in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries, has been com- 

 j)leted, and a report of the work, em))racing the conclusions reached 

 in regard to the relation of the effluents from the paper and pulp 

 mills at AVest Point, Va., to the quality of the oysters, has been sub- 

 mitted to the Chief of the Bureau of Fisheries. A report was made 

 to that bureau upon the seAvage-disposal effluents at Bridgeport Har- 

 bor, Conn. Jointly with the Bureau of Fisheries, conferences wei"e 

 Iield with the Bridgeport officials and manufacturers. Steps to elimi- 

 nate the objectionable conditions in that harbor are contemplated l\y 

 the officials. 



POULTRY AND EGGS. 



Department Bulletin 846, Examination of Frozen Egg Products 

 and Interpretation of Results, has been issued. It gives directions 

 for the chemical and bacteriological examination of frozen eggs and 

 also outlines the manner of interpreting results. This work will 

 enable the bureau to operate more efficiently in preventing inedible 

 eggs from finding their way into frozen liquid eggs for bakers' use. 

 Department (circulars 52, 55. and 74 were issued under the titles 

 How to Wrap Heads, How to Load Cars of Eggs, and How to Break 

 Eggs for Freezing, respectively. 



During the year a num.ber of shippers have consulted the labora- 

 tory regarding construction of chill rooms and poultr}^ and egg- 

 packing establishments. Either typical or special plans have been 

 furnished. Several of the plans involved a cost of $50,000 for con- 

 struction. When this work was begun in Indiana in 1914 there Avas 

 not a single chill room in that State, At the present time there are 

 more than 20 such rooms and there are proportionately equal num- 



