106 



ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



matters pertaining to food animals and their products and cooperating 

 with the officials of those countries with a view to the extension of 

 their export shipments of meat and animal by-products to the United 

 States. Such shipments since the war began have become compara- 

 tively heavy owing in part to the loss of the European markets by the 

 South American countries. 



IMPORTATIONS OF ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS. 



Systematic enforcement of the regulations (Joint Order No. 2) 

 governing the importation of hides, skins, and other animal by- 

 products has been instrumental in improving the sanitary control 

 methods of handling these products, both in the countries which 

 export them to the Jnited States and in the establishments in this 

 country to which they are consigned. There have been fewer in- 

 stances of anthrax infection from such sources, notwithstanding the 

 fact that anthrax has been exceedingly prevalent in several of the 

 hide-exporting countries. As statistics of importations are kept by 

 the Treasury Department the bureau has not compiled statistics of 

 inspoctions of the products mentioned. It is known, however, that 

 large quantities of hides and skins were imported during the fiscal 

 year. 



INSPECTION OF ANIMALS FOR EXPORT SHIPMENT. 



The regulations governing the exportation of live stock have special 

 reference to inspections for health and the humane handling and safe 

 transport of suc-h animals to destination. In addition to the designa- 

 tion of suitable and convenient places of inspection, rules for the 

 fitting of vessels, specifications of materials to be used, dimensions of 

 lumber and pens, and the space to be allowed each of the different 

 kinds of animals are indicated. The rules and regulations of the 

 country to which the animals are to be consigned likewise receive 

 careful attention. 



During the fiscal year 344 inspections of vessels carrying live stock 

 were made before clearance. Shipments of horses and mules to 

 Europe were light. The mallein test was applied to 10,067 horses 

 and 342 mules for shipment to Canada; 7 of these horses reacted and 

 were rejected. For shipment to Canada 1,816 cattle were tested with 

 tuberculin, with 9 reactors, and inspections for Canadian shipment 

 were made of 7,880 sheep, 151 swine, and 393 goats. For shipment to 

 other countries 1,026 cattle were tested with tuberculin and 3 re- 

 acted; the maUein test was applied to 33 horses with no reactors; 37 

 swine and 12 sheep also were inspected. 



The following table gives statistics of inspection of live stock for 

 export, including 41,065 horses and 24,438 mules intended for army 



use in Europe : 



Inspections of animals for export. 



