160 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



STATISTICS OF OPERATIONS. 



The number of animals which received Federal inspection at the 

 time of slaughter increased from 20,500,000 in 1897 to over 59,000,000 

 in 1912. The number of carcasses condemned increased during the 

 same period from 67,000 to over 203,000 and the number of parts 

 of carcasses condemned at slaughter increased from 39,000 to 404,000. 

 In 1907 the inspection was conducted at 128 establishments in 33 

 cities and towns and in 1912 it covered 847 establishments in 238 

 cities and towns. 



The following data show some of the operations of the Federal 

 meat inspection for the last six years during which the new law 

 has been in effect : 



Animals inspected at slaughter, over 321,000,000 



Carcasses condemned, over 900,000 



Parts of carcasses condemned, over 4, .oOO, 000 



Meat and meat food products : 



Pounds reinspected in their various preparations, over 37, 000, 000. 000 



Pounds condemned on reinspection, over 140.000,000 



Pounds exported under certificates, over 7,000,000,000 



Veterinary inspectors and assistants, over 2.400 



In addition to the 847 establishments where Federal inspection is 

 continuously maintained, the establishments of more than 2,000 retail 

 butchers and dealers, who hold certificates of exemption that they 

 may make interstate shij^ments of meats to their customers, are in- 

 spected as to sanitar}^ conditions and the wholesomeness of the prod- 

 ucts they handle. 



The high character of the Federal meat inspection has had the 

 effect of greatly stimulating sentiment for the establishment of 

 abattoirs under State or municipal control and for establishing an 

 efficient State or municipal inspection of meats intended for purely 

 local consumption. 



INSPECTION AND QUARANTINE OF IMPORTED ANIMALS. 



For many years the department has maintained a system of inspec- 

 tion and quarantine of imported animals for the purpose of protect- 

 ing the live stock of this country against contagious diseases which 

 prevail in other parts of the world, and which would do tremendous 

 damage if they should gain entrance in this country. In 1897 there 

 were three animal quarantine stations on the Atlantic seaboard, all of 

 which were but poorly equipped and on rented land located near the 

 ports of Boston, New York, and Baltimore. 



At present the department has three well-equipped animal quaran- 

 tine stations for these ports, the land as well as equipment in each 

 case being owned by the Government. Excellent accommodations 

 are provided for animals subject to quarantine. 



