572 ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Stock feeds. — In the early part of the year attenfion was given 

 to tlie shiimicMit of damafjod grains soki for stock-food purposes. 

 After coiiliscalion of one or two shipments of such goods, however, 

 further attention by inspector was arrested pending an extensive 

 investigation by another bureau of this depart niont to determine the 

 whok^someness or unwholesomeness of water-dauiaged grains. 



Miscellaneous. — An investigation was made of the character of 

 foods dispensed by railroad companies on the dining cars which 

 plied between int create points. Samples of manufactured drugs 

 and othei" pharmaceutical products were collected for the drug divi- 

 sion. In cooperation with the bacteriological laboratory an exami- 

 nation was made in several States of the various propagating 

 grounds used by oyster and clam growers. Several seizures of 

 shipments of both oysters and clams and a great many criminal 

 prosecutions were instituted as a result of the apprehension of ship- 

 ments and the collection of samples found to be polluted and grown 

 in polluted waters. 



Upon complaint from citizens residing along the Mexican border 

 in the States of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, an investigation 

 was made of the character of meat and meat-food products imported 

 from Mexico, which, because of certain laws governing importations, 

 were exempt from inspection by the Bureau of Animal Industry. 



The inspection of food and drug supplies shipped to and offered for 

 sale in Alaska, begun during the summer months of 1911, was con- 

 cluded before navigation closed late in the same season, and the 

 results indicate the wisdom and necessity of regular inspection in that 

 Territory. 



One of the special assignments of interest to the inspection force 

 was an investigation of the preparation and exportation of horse 

 meat by an eastern firm. This product was offered for sale in 

 Holland, where there is an extensive traffic in such meat. The firm 

 processing and packing the meat was one engaged in the purchase of 

 carcasses of dead horses and cattle, as Avell as fat from various sources, 

 which was rendered into tallow. As far as known this was the only 

 business of the establishment. It was soon determined that in the 

 course of their legitimate work certains cuts or sections from the 

 carcasses of horses brought for consignment to the rendering vats 

 were transported to a near-by building and pickled for exportation 

 for human consumption, directly contrary to the provisions of the 

 law, which deems a meat adulterated if it be from an animal killed 

 otherwise than by slaughter. In the course of this investigation it 

 was necessary to" assign several inspectors to the collection of the 

 different phases of evidence necessary to establish a violation of the 

 law. After the required testimony had been obtained, but before the 

 ex])ortation of the shipment under surveillance, the packers were 

 informed of the operations of our inspectors through the treachery 

 of a local health inspector with whom our men had cooperated. All 

 of the facts in the department's possession were submitted to the 

 State authorities and an action was instituted under the State law. 



Another class of trade which tested the ingenuity of the inspectors 

 giving attention to the matter was locating and stopping interstate 

 shipments of rotten eggs which were labeled for technical purposes 

 only, but which after arrival at destination were broken, frozen, and 

 subsequently sold to baking establishments for use in food products. 



