44 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



Dairy centers in fifteen different States have been visited dnring 

 the year by the chief or assistant chief of the division, and conven- 

 tions of dairy associations and similar bodies have been attended in 

 ten States. A special agent of the Bureau, on duty for this division, 

 visited Japan, China, and the Philippines for the j)urpose of investi- 

 gating market conditions and arranging for a series of experimental 

 exports of dairj' products from this country. Another special agent 

 examined the conditions along the Canadian border with reference to 

 dairy products crossing the line in the course of exports. A third 

 si)ecial agent made an investigation into the manufacture of certain 

 kinds of cheese in Belgium and Holland. 



Experimental exports of dairy products have been made to .Japan, 

 China, Cuba, and Porto Rico. This method of making known the 

 better grades of these products has resulted in somewhat increased 

 sales by merchants in San Francisco and New York, and some parties 

 elsewhere, but inadequate or unsuitable transportation facilities, the 

 destructive climates of some of the countries referred to, and other 

 unfavorable conditions prevent any rapid increase in this trade. 

 Japanese markets may well be further cultivated from the Pacific 

 coast, but in China, aside from condensed milk, the fresh supplies 

 from Australia possess advantages with which shipments from this 

 country can not successfully compete. Inquiry by correspondence 

 indicates that there are good opportunities for finding markets for 

 dairj^ products from the United States in Mexico and South America, 

 if proper exertions are made in that direction. 



Commencing with this fiscal j^ear, and in accordance with an act of 

 Congress approved March 2, 1901, a system was inaugurated for 

 inspecting dairy products offered for export, affixing stamps to the 

 same, and certifying to the character and quality of the articles. The 

 law states the object to be "ascertaining the jiurity and quality of 

 such products" and "to secure their identity and make known in 

 the markets of foreign countries to which they may be sent from 

 the United States their puritj^, qualit}^ and grade." Although the 

 authoritj" granted may cover all dairy exports, it has been deemed 

 expedient, at least for the present, to confine the certification to 

 products which special inspection shows to be " pure, of high qualit}-, 

 and suitable for export." Special agents were accordingly appointed 

 and placed on duty as "inspectors of dairy exj)orts" at the ports of 

 Boston, New York, and San Francisco, and also at Chicago. This 

 service has been occasional only, or more or less continuous, accord- 

 ing to the needs of the respective localities. During this fiscal year 

 the relations of foreign markets to those of the United States have 

 been rather abnormal, prices being such in this countr}^ as to prevent 

 any considerable export of high-grade goods other than condensed 

 milk and cream. While the service of these inspectors has therefore 

 resulted in obtaining full information as to the character of our dairy 

 export trade and the circumstances attending it, there have been few 

 inspections requested by exporters and still fewer certificates given. 



At the request of the Secretary of the Navy, this Department has 

 assisted in perfecting specifications and arranging for the execution 

 of contracts for securing an improv^ed supply of butter for the Navy. 

 Inspectors representing this division have been stationed at the places 

 of manufacture, and have seen that onl}- butter of extra quality has 

 been packed and delivered under these contracts. The result has been 

 that the butter in naval stores has been of a higher average quality 



