222 AXXUAL FiEPORTS OF DEPARTMEXT OF AGRICULTURE. 



8 per cent in five dsiYS, whereas the shrinkage in the top layer is 

 practically negligible. 



Studies lm\Q also been made on the chilling of fish to prevent their 

 rise in temperature while being transported in Avarm climates to 

 the refrigerator. The preservation of fish by freezing, and especially 

 the freezing of fish in chilled brine, has been investigated. It was 

 determined that in the latter process the brine penetrates through 

 the skin for a short distance. 



A large fund of information concerning the commercial handling 

 of fish intended for freezer storage, and on the equipment of fish 

 freezers has been obtained. It has thus been possible to give advice 

 to operators and prospective builders of fish freezers. Many persons 

 m the various branches of the fish industry were given information. 

 Producers on the Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida 

 coasts were instructed in the packing of fish and loading of refriger- 

 ator cars. In cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries, the bureau 

 supervised the handling and freight transportation of fish in car 

 lots from the producing section in Florida to Savannah, Ga., Louis- 

 ville, Ky., Nashville. Tenn., and Indianapolis, Ind. Approximately 

 400,000 pounds of fish were transported in this way, and in conse- 

 quence the market for Florida fish was greatly extended. Moreover, 

 in cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries, analyses of various 

 kinds of salt were made to determine the characteristics of tl^oso 

 most suitable for salting fish. 



POULTRY AND EGGS. 



The following publications have been issued : Department Bulletin 

 391, "Accuracy in Commercial Grading of Opened Eggs ; " Depart- 

 ment Bulletin 702, " Efficiency of Commercial Egg Candling; " De- 

 partment Bulletin 775, " Commercial Preservation of Eggs by Cold 

 Storage ; " and Department Circular 25, '' Points for Egg Buyers." 



A material diminution in the breakage of eggs during transporta- 

 tion resulting from faulty loading and stowing of freight cars was 

 brought about through cooperation with the Railroad Administra- 

 tion. Employees of the Eailroad Administration were detailed to 

 the Bureau of Chemistry, where they received instruction in proper 

 methods of loading and stowing eggs in freight cars. Whenever cars 

 were received at terminals w^ith the loads in a badly damaged condi- 

 tion, these employees of the Ilailroad Administi^tion paid personal 

 visits to the shipper for the purpose of instructing him how properly 

 to load cars and avoid more damage in future shipments. 



DAIRY PRODUCTS. 



Much attention has been given to the development of analytical and 

 microscopical methods for distinguishing from fresh milk remade 

 milk, produced by combining mechanically skim-milk powder, water, 

 and butter fat. No wholly satisfactory microscopic method has been 

 devised. Physico-chemical methods have been found successful only 

 under certain conditions. Physiological analytical methods have also 

 been successful under some conditions, but it still remains to be deter- 

 mined whether any of these methods or any combination of them will 

 prove universally applicable. 



An extensive investigation designed to furnish information for use 

 in the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act has been undertaken 



