890 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



time to time, and their work has been done creditably and expedi- 

 tiously. 



The vij^orous enforcement of the food and druo;.s act continued 

 throughout the year. Fourteen hundred and lifly-nine violations 

 were reported to the Department of Justice for action, an increase of 

 more than 25 per cent over the number of violations reported during 

 the fiscal year 1911, and of 47 per cent over the number reported during 

 the fiscal year 1910. Of the total number of cases, 991 were criminal 

 cases and 467 were recommendations for the seizure of adulterated 

 or misbrandcd foods and drugs. There were 741 cases prosecuted 

 by the United States attorneys during the year. Of the criminal 

 cases prosecuted, 381 resulted in convictions; 23 were decided 

 adversely to the Government. Fines were imposed in the criminal 

 cases amounting to over SI 4,000, and, in addition, costs were assessed 

 generally against the defendants. Of the cases reported during 

 the year, 407 were pending in the courts at its close and 376 were 

 under consideration by the Department of Justice. 



The first jail sentences for violations of this act were imposed 

 during the year, and there was a tendency on the part of the courts 

 to impose larger fines for first offenses. The maximum fine of $200 

 was imposed in 12 cases, and there were also imposed 1 fine of $150, 

 36 fines of $100 each, 2 fines of $75 each, and 61 fines of $50 each. 

 In 1911 the maximum fine of $200 was imposed in 16 cases, and there 

 were imposed 4 fines of $150 each, 1 fine of $125, 26 fines of $100 

 each, 1 fine of $75, and 33 fines of $50 each. There was also imposed 

 a fine of $400 in 3 cases prosecuted where several different adulter- 

 ated and misbranded articles were contained in one shipment. It 

 will be noted that while there was a slight decrease in the number of 

 maximum fines imposed during 1912, there was a very substantial 

 increase in the number of cases in which fines of $100 and $50 were 

 imposed. 



In the seizure eases decrees of condemnation and forfeiture were 

 entered against 294 sliipments of adulterated and misbranded goods. 

 In accordance with the usual practice, whenever seized articles of food 

 were found to consist of filthy, decomposed, or putrid substances, or 

 to contain added poisonous or deleterious ingredients which might 

 render them injurious to health the department has insisted that 

 orders be entered directing the destruction of the goods. One hun- 

 dred and three sliipments of this class were destroyed. On the other 

 hand, in the class of cases where the adulteration or misbranding 

 was such that it could be cured by relabeling, the eourts have usually 

 released the seized goods to claimants after relabeling whenever 

 claimants have appeared and consented to the entry ot decrees of 

 condemnation and forfeiture, paid the costs of the proceedings, and 

 filed bond, as provided for by section 10 of the act, that the goods 

 would not thereafter be sold or otherwise disposed of contrary to law. 

 One hundred and sixty-two sliipments of this class of cases were 

 released during the year after relabeling and the filing of satisfactory 

 bonds. There have been seized and condemned shipments of sar- 

 dines, figs, herrmg, dried apples, dried cherries, condensed milk, pie 

 filling, cold cream ointment, soft drinks, candies, cordials, chestnuts, 

 oysters, tomato pulp, frozen eggs, bottled water, apples, peanuts, 

 turpentine, sparkling burgundy, brandy, vanilla extract, dried black- 

 berries, dried eggs, liqueurs, butter, vuiegar, prunes, witch-hazel, and 

 hay, 



