104 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



year. One thousand three hundred and sixteen samples were found 

 not to be in accordance with the regulations, 64 of which were from 

 imported products and 16 from mihtary products. Water supplies 

 from 735 sources were examined, 119 of which were condemned for 

 use in the preparation of meat products. 



The study of the rancidity of fats has been continued, and has now 

 progressed so far that it is possible to assert definitely that the con- 

 dition known as rancidity is entirely due to oxidation. 



QUARANTINE DIVISION. 



The work of inspection and quarantine of imported live stock, the 

 inspection of animals for export, and the inspection and disinfection 

 of imported hay, hides, wool, etc., have been conducted by the 

 Quarantine Division under the direction of R. W. Hickman, chief. 



INSPECTION AND QUARANTINE OF IMPORTED ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS. 



New regulations have been issued for the inspection and quarantine 

 of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and other animals imported into the 

 United States (B. A. I. Order 259), and to govern the importation of 

 hides, fleshings, hide cuttings, parings, glue stock, sheepskins, and 

 goatskins and parts thereof, hair, wool, and other animal by-products, 

 and ha}^, straw, forage, or similar material (Joint Order No. 2 of the 

 Treasury Department and the Department of Agriculture). Some 

 new ports of entry have been designated for the convenience of 

 shippers, and the bureau is authorized in special cases and with the 

 concurrence of the customs authorities to designate other stations 

 than those specifically named in the regulations. 



Shipments from Great Britain to the United States have been 

 coming forward with a fair degree of regularity, though, as in the 

 preceding year, importations of live stock have been below the 

 normal average. 



Early in the fiscal year the animal quarantine station for the port 

 of Baltimore, Md., situated on the water front near that city, was 

 turned over to the War Department for Army use; consequently 

 permits have not been issued for the importation of ruminants and 

 swine at Baltimore. The stations at Boston and New York, how- 

 ever, have been maintained, thus affording accommodations for 

 importers entering live stock at Atlantic coast ports. 



Under authority of the food production act, joint regulations were 

 issued October 1 by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary 

 of Agriculture providing for the importation of tick-infested cattle 

 from the Republics of Mexico and South and Central America and 

 from the islands of the Caribbean Sea for immediate slaughter at 

 ports of entry below the southern cattle-quarantine line. It was 

 provided by Congress that cattle imported under the provisions of 

 the act should be slaughtered in accordance with the meat-inspection 

 law, and also that all such animals were to be shown to be free from 

 exposure to the infection of any disease other than tick fever during 

 the 60 days next before their exportation. 



During the year 40 cattle were shipped into Porto Rico from the 

 Virgin Islands. While the Virgin Islands belong to the United States 

 the quarantine laws of the United States do not apply to them, as 

 they are under the control and jurisdiction of the Navy Department. 



