G ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



out the country, and include a comparison of the holdings of the 

 current year with those of the previous year. In cooperation with 

 carriers, extensive investigations of the economic waste of foodstuffs 

 in transit have been conducted. The object of these investigations 

 is to secure better cooperation between shippers and carriers and 

 greater efficiency in methods of handling, with a view to eliminate, 

 or at least greatly to reduce, the present waste. 



MARKETING LIVE STOCK AND MEATS. 



A sj^stematic survey of centralized live-stock markets, begun dur- 

 ing 1915, has been extended to cover practically all the large stock- 

 yard centers. Arrangements have been made with 58 stockyard com- 

 panies to secure monthly reports of live-stock receipts and shipments. 

 A uniform system of market records has been adopted, at the instance 

 of the department, by a number of the yards. Twenty-six com- 

 panies are reporting stocker and feeder shipments separately, in 

 accordance with a form prepared by the Office of Markets and Rural 

 Organization. 



An investigation of the organization and conduct of cooperative 

 live-stock shipping associations, begun during 1915, has been com- 

 pleted and the results published. The directory of these associations 

 now includes 485 organizations, aside from 440 other agricultural 

 associations which ship live stock as a branch of their business. The 

 farmers' cooperative packing-house movement was studied and a 

 press bulletin on the subject was issued. 



A conference relative to the marketing of live stock and meats 

 was held at Chicago November 15 and 16, 1915, for the purpose of 

 " ascertaining the essential facts pertaining to the industry with a 

 view to bring about more stable marketing conditions, more efficient 

 methods, closer cooperation, and a better understanding among all 

 the interests connected with the industry." Representatives of all 

 the National organizations and of other interests concerned with 

 the live-stock and meat industry participated in the meeting. The 

 proceedings were published as House Document No. 855, Sixty- 

 fourth Congress, first session. 



Methods and costs of marketing live stock and meats in the 

 United States were investigated. Extensive schedules were sent 

 to 10,500 correspondents of the Bureau of Crop Estimates. A sum- 



