2(34 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



While the number of herds given is less than in 1904, 

 as well as the number of neat cattle and milch cows, the 

 reports in many ways are more complete. They show an 

 increase of over 700 sheep and a decrease of over 600 goats. 

 Every city and town has been heard from, akhough it was 

 long after November 15 when the reports of some of the 

 inspectors were received. 



The number of stables inspected exceeds those of the pre- 

 vious year by about 5,000, and the returns are more com- 

 plete than for several years ; only five towns are marked as 

 incomplete on the stable inspection, and in these the omis- 

 sions were few and trivial. The better stable inspection was 

 brought about by inserting in the insi)ection books a new 

 series of questions relating to stables, rendering it impos- 

 sible for inspectors to write ' ' the same as last year " in 

 tilling out the answers, as has been the case for several 

 previous years with man}^ of them. 



While it is felt that in some towns the inspectors have not 

 made as thorough and complete an inspection as it was pos- 

 sible for them to make, yet it is not to be wondered at if 

 the work is not performed in the best possible manner, when 

 the compensation they receive in many of the smaller towns 

 of the State is considered. Inspectors of animals in some 

 of the small towns receive but $15 to $20 per annum ; and 

 when one considers the salar}^ in comparison with the services 

 required, there can be no doubt but what the compensation 

 is more than earned in the amount of work done, even 

 although it is not carried out to the fullest com})letion. 



It is still a matter worthy of consideration as to whether 

 it w^ould not be better for the State to be divided into veter- 

 inary districts, with a veterinarian under the direction of 

 the Chief of the Cattle Bureiui in charge of each, with a 

 suitable salary from the State, rather than to continue the 

 present system of town inspectors of animals. 



Tuberculosis. 



That portion of the duties of the Cattle Bureau rc(iuircd 

 in connection with tuberculosis may be divided, as in pre- 

 ceding years, under three heads. 



