Table 4. Non- Reacting and Positive Flocks Classified by Counties 



County 



Barnstable 



Berkshire 



Bristol 



Dukes 



Essex 



Franklin 



Hampden 



Hampshire 



Middlesex 



Norfolk 



Plymouth 



Suffolk 



Worcester 



Totals 



Berkshire 



Bristol 



Essex 



Hampden 



Middlesex 



Norfolk 



Worcester 



Totals 



61,452 



In Barnstable, Berkshire, Dukes, Franklin, Hampshire, Plymouth, and Suffolk 

 counties, no flocks were classified as infected at the close of the testing season. 

 In seven counties, 16 infected flocks representing 61,452 birds were listed. The 

 bulk of the birds (44,471) in infected flocks was found in two flocks in Norfolk 

 County. 



The flocks tested in Barnstable, Dukes, Hampden, Hampshire, and Suffolk 

 counties were all 100 percent tested. The value of 100 percent testing is recog- 

 nized by the majority of flock owners. Partial flock testing is not a sound pro- 

 cedure in determining the true status of a flock. The retention of untested birds 

 on the premises may lead to the spread of the disease from the untested to the 

 tested birds. Furthermore, flocks in which all birds over five months of age are 

 tested can qualify for one of the official grades recognized by the Massachusetts 

 Department of Agriculture, provided no reactors are found. Flock owners are 

 encouraged to have their flocks officially recognized by the Massachusetts De- 

 partment of Agriculture. 



Comparison of 1940-41 and 1941-42 Testing 



Table 5 gives the comparison of the 1940-41 and 1941-42 testing results lor 

 the different counties. The increases in the number of tested flocks, birds, and 

 samples and non-reacting flocks are very substantial. The number of tested birds 

 increased in all but one county. The average percentage of infection increased 

 slightly over the previous season, which is attributed to the large number of 

 reactors found in one large flock. On the whole, the percentages of infection for 



