EEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY. 103 



Interstate shipments of milk. — From time to time the milk 

 supply entering interstate commerce at various large cities is inspected 

 with a view to determming its purity, not only by reason of such 

 adulterations as watering, skimming, etc., but also bacteriological 

 contamination resulting from improper treatment of the cattle, 

 insanitary surroundings, etc. 



FISH AND OYSTKRS. 



Codfish. — The causes and conditions incident to the spoilage of 

 codfish and other salt fish, particularly during the summer months, 

 were studied, the inspection being accompanied by the necessary 

 microscopical and chemical examinations. It appears that the organ- 

 isms causing the characteristic reddening of the infected fish occur 

 normally in the localities where the fish are packed and are present 

 in the salt used for curing, exhibiting an unusual toleration for this 

 substance. While the specific organisms causing the spoilage have 

 been determined and some of the conditions favorable to their devel- 

 opment established, on which practical suggestions to the trade may 

 be based, the problem must be further studied before the difficulty 

 can be perfectly controlled. The use of pure water for washing the 

 fish, of disinfectants in the packing houses and holds of vessels, and 

 of improved sanitary methods of handling will go far to solve the 

 problem. 



Oysters. — The danger of contamination of the 03^ster and clam 

 supply, especially from sewage, but also from conditions under which 

 they are floated, handled, and shipped, was carefully studied. In 

 the prosecution of this investigation many of the largest 03'ster beds 

 were inspected, location of sewer pipes, etc., observed, methods of 

 handling and shipping studied, and samples of water and oysters 

 taken for bacteriological examination. In many cases conditions of 

 grave danger were observed, which call for the most intelligent and 

 painstaking care to prevent pollution of the supply — the floating of 

 oysters in unclean water, etc. The data obtained have been collated 

 and it is thought that the presentation of the facts, together with sus- 

 tained inspection, will result in a decided improvement in conditions 

 and point out to the industries concerned the necessity for watchful- 

 ness in these particulai*s. 



FOOD CONTAINERS. 



Marked progress has been made in the study of the relation of the 

 character of the container to the tin content and keeping pro})erties 

 of canned goods in general. Recent developments in the manufac- 

 ture of tin plate have been largely in the direction of the preparation of 

 a cheaper product, and one of the efforts of the manufacturers has been 

 to give the plate as light a coat of tin as possible. Since it is mani- 

 festly impossible to apply to iron plate a thin coating of tin which is 



