BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 477 



evidenced by the smaller number of samples that it was found neces- 

 sary to analyze and a slight decrease in the percentage of illegal 

 samples which were examined. A slight improvement in the quality 

 of the interstate samples is also to be noted. The activity in the 

 enforcement of the law has been greater, more samples have been 

 examined, and the percentage of illegal samples is exactly the same 

 as last year. 



Of the 491 hearings conducted, 281 represent interstate samples, an 

 increase of 75 per cent over last year. It is estimated that at least GOO 

 personal appearances were made by importers and those interested in 

 interstate violations in answer to citation issued from this laboratory 

 during the year. 



In the matter of relabeling of foreign products the enforcement of 

 the law has been rigid, and a larger proportion of misbranded and 

 adulterated goods has been exported by order of the customs authori- 

 ties than ever before. If this rigid enforcement is continued, but 

 little trouble will be experienced with imported foods. 



SAVANNAH LABORATORY. 



The assistant chemist was assigned to the New York laboratory 

 for about four months, which, together with the increased amount of 

 executive work in connection with the domestic and import samples, 

 contributed to reduce the number of samples examined. Consid- 

 erable time was devoted to the study of methods for the determina- 

 tion of sodium benzoate in different food products. 



Of the 156 interstate samples examined, covering a wide range of 

 foodstuffs, such as flavoring extracts, spices, sirups of various kinds, 

 canned oysters, jellies, jams, preserves, olive oils, etc., 51, or about 33 

 per cent, were found to be illegal. 



Of the 159 hearings, 119 were concerned with interstate samples and 

 40 with imported products. 



SEATTLE LABORATORY. 



At this laboratory the examination of imported food and drug 

 products constituted the bulk of the work done, 414 samples being 

 analyzed, of which about one-third were found to be adulterated. 

 The largest classes of imports examined were fish and meat, medicinal 

 preparations, and olive oils. Of the 83 samples of fish and meat 

 examined, 18 were found adulterated or misbranded, 30 of the G2 sam- 

 ples of medicinal preparations, and 14 of the 37 samples of olive oil. 

 Seventy-throe samples of miscellaneous imported products have been 

 examined for the customs officials of this district to aid them in their 

 classifications, and 18 samples for the internal-revenue officials of 

 the Treasury Department; other miscellaneous samples were also 

 examined for the Navy Department and the purchasing commissary 

 of the War Department. Of the 91 interstate samples about 45 per 

 cent were found to be adulterated or misbranded, spices and condi- 

 ments, fruit products, and formenting liquors furnishing the greater 

 number of illegal samples. About half of the 113 hearings reported 

 were conducted by correspondence. 



Special in\estigations were made along the followino^ lines: A 

 study was made of the salmon-canning industry on Puget Sound with 

 special reference to the factory conditions and to the grade of canned 



