P.D. 123 9 



Pullonim Clean Grade. — Under this grade we supervised 177 flocks that applied for 

 and met the requirements for this grade. There were a total of 358,559 birds under 

 this grade. All of these birds passed at least two consecutive 100% pullorum disease 

 free tests. A list of the flocks meeting the requirements of this grade was compiled 

 and distributed. 



Pullorum Passed Grade. — This grade allowed for the listing of flocks passing one 

 100% free pullorum disease test. Uixler this grade there were 37 flocks qualifying, 

 with a total of 45,314 birds. Lists of these flocks were prepared and distributed. 



Poultry Transportation Law. — During the year there were 610 Massachusetts 

 poultry transportation licenses issued. Considerable work was done with local and 

 state enforcement agencies in policing the buying, selling and transporting of poultry 

 in this state, and during the year it was necessary to revoke four poultry transporta- 

 tion licenses after a hearing had been granted and it had been found that the holders 

 of these licenses had violated the provisions of the law. 



Poultry Tattooing. — During the year the tattooing program was continued, with 

 meetings and demonstrations being held throughout the state, at which time the pro- 

 gram was explained to the poultrymen. The tattooing program, in connection with 

 the poultry transportation law, has been successful in practically eliminating poultry 

 stealing from this state. Up to November 30, 1938, there has been a total of 840 

 poultry tattoo numbers issued by the department. These numbers are registered in 

 this office and in the office of the State Police. 

 Miscellaneous Poultry Work: 



During the course of the year, all of the poultry correspondence and requests for 

 information pertaining to the division work were handled. 



In cooperation with certain of the County Agents we were able successfully to pre- 

 vent the spread of certain infectious poultry diseases in the State. 



In cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture we handled the operation 

 of the National Uniform Plan in this state. 



We assisted also at certain fairs and exhibits in promoting the work of the division, 

 and in cooperation with other groups prepared a poultry exhibit showing the position 

 of our Massachusetts poultry breeding stock. This exhibit was shown at the Poultry 

 Industries Exposition held in New York City the first part of November. 



Licensing and Bonding of Milk Dealers 



In 1938 there were 568 applicants for a license under the Bonding Law. The statu- 

 tory fee of $5 was received at the time application was made. On April 30, 1938, there 

 were on file with the Commissioner of Agriculture notes showing a face value of 

 $621,092.74. During the year, notes valuing $177,996.33 were received and notes valu- 

 ing $171,601.17 were returned. Securing these notes, — $626,675.90 at the end of year, 

 ■ — we had on file collateral which showed a book value of $849,016.31 This collateral 

 consisted of surety bonds, bank books. United States Government bonds, industrial 

 bonds, stocks, certificates of deposit, mortgages and life insurance policies. 



During the year, hearings were held in Fall River, New Bedford, Springfield, Pitts- 

 field, Worcester and Boston. Fifteen dealers were restrained from operating a milk 

 plant because these dealers would not conform to the requirements of the Bonding 

 Law. One hundred forty-one dealers were checked regarding their method of payment 

 to farmers. Two dealers were forced to re-finance and pay up balances to the farmers. 

 Rubber checks given by two dealers in payment for milk were investigated and the 

 condition corrected. Twenty dealers were forced to substitute quick collateral for 

 chattel mortgages that were on file at the beginning of the year. 



It is difficult to state how much money was collected for the farmers of the state 

 through the efforts of the department, because the law itself has a moral effect on 

 many dealers who might be inclined to neglect their contractual duty to pay for milk 

 delivered to the plant. Over $50,000 was involved on complaints sent in by farmers, 

 and this money was satisfactorily settled or the bonds of these dealers were foreclosed 

 after due process of law. 



The law has another aspect that should be kept in mind. Financially irresponsible 

 individuals do not find it advantageous to jump into the business of distributing milk 

 for a time, buying their product from the farmer, and not paying for it in full or not 

 at all, then getting out of the business and going to work in another industry. This 

 force has a stabilizing effect on the wholesale and retail price, and helps the farmer 

 maintain better relations with proper distributors of milk. 



