28 



for carrying out the provisions of the act which is entitled "An act 

 to prevent the introduction and dissemination of dangerous insect, 

 fungous, and weed pests of craps." The commission may also adopt 

 regulations not inconsistent with the laws and constitution of North 

 Carolina and the United States for preventing the introduction of in- 

 jurious crop pests from without the State, and for governing com- 

 mon carriers in transporting plants liable to harbor such pests to and 

 from the State, and such regulations shall have the force of law. 

 When the crop commission has reason to suspect that any pest listed 

 b}^ them as injurious exists in any county of the State, they are required 

 to cause such suspicion to be verified b}' a person competent to deter- 

 mine the specific identit}^ of the pest, and if such suspicion proves 

 founded upon fact, is further required to appoint for a designated time 

 and duty a competent person for their agent to inspect such infested 

 premises and to take such measures for treating them as the commis- 

 sion ma}^ direct. Anyone who shall seek to prevent inspection or 

 who shall otherwise interfere with the operations of the commission in 

 the performance of its duties shall upon conviction be fined not less 

 than i5 nor more than $50 for each offense, or may be imprisoned for 

 not less than ten nor more that thirt}^ days. 



(Chapter 264, Laws of 1897, ratified March 5, 1897.) 



MISSISSIPPI. 



At present the State of Mississippi has enacted no special legisla- 

 tion against the boll weevil; however, the legislature is now (Januar}^, 

 1904) in session and some provision similar to those in force in other 

 States will probably be made. 



liOTTISIANA. 



A recent special session of the legislature created a crop-pest com- 

 mission that is charged with the formulation of such regulations as 

 seem to be necessary in order to prevent a further advance of the boll 

 weevil in the cotton fields. This commission, consisting of the State 

 commissioner of agriculture, the director of the experiment station, 

 the State entomologist, and two practical farmers, is now (January) in 

 session. It is empowered to deal with all fruit and crop pests and is 

 authorized to prohibit the shipment into the State of any cotton seed 

 or other farm product from any region known to be infested b}^ the 

 weevil, except under such rules and regulations as it ma}- promulgate. 

 The act prohibits bringing into the State or having in possession any 

 live weevils, under a penalty of not less than 1|25 nor more than $100, 

 or imprisonment for not less than ten da3\s or more than six months. 

 Similar penalties apply to violations of an}' rules the commission may 

 establish. 



(Act Ko. 6, approved December 15, 1903.) 



189 



