REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 



To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives. 



The Board of Cattle Commissioners do hereby present 

 their annual report of the work done by them during the 

 year 1898, as provided for in section 51 of chapter 491 of 

 the Acts of the year 1894. 



At the beginning of the year 1898 the Legislature appro- 

 priated $20,000 for the temporary carrying on of the work 

 until a further appropriation could be made, and from that 

 time until the beginning of April the work was continued 

 on the same basis as in 1897, viz. : — 



First. — The supervision and direction of the work of the 

 local inspectors appointed by the cities and towns under the 

 provisions of chapter 491 of the Acts of 1894, and the ex- 

 amination of all animals quarantined by them as suspected 

 of being afflicted with a contagious disease. 



Second. — The examination of cattle coming into the 

 markets at Brighton, Watertown and Somerville from 

 without the State for sale, and the examination and iden- 

 tification of cattle coming from without the State upon 

 special permit. 



As heretofore, under section 1 of chapter 491 of the Acts 

 of 1894, the mayor and aldermen of cities and the select- 

 men of towns must appoint one or more persons to be 

 inspectors of animals and provisions. These inspectors 

 must make regular and thorough inspections of all neat 

 cattle, sheep and swine found within the limits of their 

 several towns, when ordered to do so by the Board of 

 Cattle Commissioners. Under the law they must also make 

 inspections of any domestic animal, whenever they have 

 knowledge or reason to believe that such animal is affected 

 with any contagious disease : and they shall also examine 

 at the time of slaughter all neat cattle, sheep and swine 



