TEXAS FEVER. 497 



define the boundary of infected districts. The infected area as now 

 determined is shown in maps issued periodically. 



In consequence of the enforcement of these quarantine regulations, 

 Texas fever has been practically prevented in the noninfected dis- 

 tricts for several years, and little or no hardship has been caused to 

 stockmen handling cattle from the infected areas. Prior to the 

 adoption of these regulations the tick-infested district was rapidly 

 extending northward, but since the quarantine line was established 

 and rational regulations enforced it has gradually been moved farther 

 south. This problem of still further reducing the infested area is of 

 the greatest importance to the cattlemen of the South — in fact, to 

 those on both sides of the line — and one which is receiving special 

 consideration by this department as well as by many of the interested 

 States. 



TICK ERADICATION. 



Systematic cooperative work by the Federal Government and the 

 affected States for the eradication of the cattle ticks which transmit 

 Texas fever was begun in the summer of 1906 under authority given 

 by Congress in the appropriation act for the Department of Agricul- 

 ture. The first Federal appropriation for the fiscal year ended June 

 30, 1907, was $82,500, and for the fiscal year 1908 an appropriation 

 of $150,000 was made, then for several years $250,000, and this has 

 been increased to $660,000 for 1922. Funds have also been provided 

 by States and counties. 



The original infected area amounted to 728,543 square miles. Of 

 this territory there has been released from quarantine as a result of 

 the work above mentioned 523,837 square miles (up to July 1, 1922). 

 In other words, 72 per cent of the area has been freed from ticks 

 in 16 years. 



Great improvement has resulted from this work in the released 

 territory. More cattle are being raised, and a better grade of breed- 

 ing stock is being introduced; calves grow faster, and cattle put on 

 flesh more rapidly during the grazing season and go into the winter 

 in better condition because of the absence of the ticks; they can be 

 marketed without quarantine restrictions, and higher prices are being 

 obtained ; dairy cows give a larger yield of milk ; and values of farm 

 lands are enhanced. 



The difi^erence between the prices realized for cattle from the tick- 

 infested region and the prices of cattle of similar grades from above 

 the quarantine line has ranged from $2.25 to $5 a head at the prin- 

 cipal northern live-stock markets, without taking into account the 

 improvement in quality and weight of cattle because of the eradica- 

 tion of the ticks. It can easily be seen that the extermination of the 

 54793°— 23 32 



