IMPORTING FRIESLAND CATTLE 71 



independent research in the pathology of Swine Fever by 

 some scientific centre, concurrently with that carried on by 

 the Board of Agriculture in conjunction with the Departmental 

 Committee. 



There were twenty-seven outbreaks of Foot and Mouth 

 Disease during the year, and though this was a welcome drop 

 from the figures of 1912, a good deal of uneasiness was created. 

 The Board were unable to account for the cause of any of these 

 outbreaks, but as cases were occurring in Ireland from time 

 to time, the Council in May asked all County Councils in 

 England and Wales to issue an order prohibiting the entry 

 of live Irish stock into their respective areas, and a very 

 large proportion immediately issued such an order. These 

 were generally removed during August, as owing to the war 

 it was felt undesirable to place any restrictions upon the 

 movement of stock, unless absolutely imperative. 



In July the Council discussed a motion suggesting that the 

 Board should make compulsory regulations on stockowners 

 with a view to stamping out the Ox Warble Fly, but after 

 a long debate an amended resolution was agreed to asking 

 the Board to institute research as to the best means of eradi- 

 cating the pest, and urging agriculturists meanwhile to adopt 

 the best-known methods for preventing attacks by this Fly. 



On 7th November a sale of fifty-nine imported Friesland 

 cattle took place and the extraordinary average price of 

 253 per head was reached. At the meeting on 9th December 

 the Cattle Disease Committee's report expressed grave con- 

 cern at the action of the Board of Agriculture in allowing this 

 importation of foreign animals. The Committee considered 

 it a most inexpedient use of the powers given by the Diseases 

 of Animals Act, 1896, as it involved danger to the live stock 

 in this country, and tended to shake the confidence of colonial 

 and foreign purchasers. Very strong objection was taken 

 in many quarters to this importation ; and perhaps still 

 stronger objection to the secrecy with which the affair was 

 surrounded. It was felt that the Department were guilty 

 of dereliction of duty in thus stooping to condone a mere 

 commercial speculation. Probably no step has been taken 



