No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 489 



The Board takes this opportunity to acknowledge the 

 hearty co-operation and assistance rendered by the various 

 railroad corporations and transportation companies entering 

 the Commonwealth. Without such co-operation and assistance 

 it would have been impossible for the Board to have kept an 

 accurate account of animals transported across the State line, 

 and the Board would have been unable in many instances to 

 locate animals brought into the State contrary to these regula- 

 tions. 



The method of procedure differs with different roads, but is 

 practically as follows : — 



Roads entering from the north refuse to accept cattle for 

 transportation across the State line without a permit being 

 delivered at the time of shipment ; where this is not forthcom- 

 ing, the animals are not loaded until a permit is secured by 

 telegraph or otherwise. In all other cases the animals are 

 loaded and shipped with the distinct understanding that, if 

 permission does not reach them at the State line, they will be 

 immediately shipped to one of the regular stations at Brighton, 

 YYatertown or Somerville. 



All roads within this Commonwealth refuse to switch cattle 

 from off the tracks of any other road unless they are accom- 

 panied by the special permit, or have direct permission from 

 the office. So thoroughly have these regulations been observed 

 since the issuance of this order that no trouble whatever arises 

 from this source at the present time. The only possible way 

 for animals to gain entrance to the State other than upon per- 

 mit, at the present time, is on the hoof; and infringements of 

 this sort are guarded and prevented to some considerable extent 

 through the local inspectors. 



Inasmuch as the regulations put in force by this commission 

 so vitally affected the agricultural interests of the adjoining 

 States, because the movement of cattle was as a whole from 

 11 i<>se States to Massachusetts rather than in the opposite direc- 

 tion, the Board felt that it would be advisable to meet the 

 authorities of the surrounding States, having control over the 

 affairs in charge of this Board, that matters of mutual interest 

 might be freely discussed and means of mutual assistance be 

 agreed upon. Accordingly this Board invited the commis- 

 sions of the New England States and the State of New York 



