26 Department Circular 287, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



the privilege of every American beekeeper warmly to support the 

 enforcement of this law, and this is in fact the attitude of the vast 

 majority at this time. 



In the correspondence with the Bureau of Entomology regarding 

 the regulations for importations, the necessity for further importa- 

 tions of queenbees is emphasized by those who wish to make sucK 

 importations, and is minimized or denied by those who do not wish 

 to make importations. This is a natural condition and occasions no 

 surprise. It seems evident that there is no popular -demand or great 

 necessity for large importations at present, and, in fact, it is not 

 proved that any actual damage would result to American beekeep- 

 ing from a total prohibition of importations for a time. With the 

 safeguards which have been provided under the law, it will be pos- 

 sible to make such importations as may be urgently needed for ex- 

 perimental and scientific purposes. As further investigations are 

 made in the various foreign countries, it may be found safe to allow 

 bees to enter from them without restrictions and for any purpose. 

 Until accurate information is available from the various countries, 

 it is the part of wisdom to limit the importations to those for experi- 

 mental and scientific purposes and to keep a careful watch for infor- 

 mation from all the countries from which any importations may be 

 desired. 



In addition to the countries named above as having prohibited or 

 restricted the importation of adult bees, special attention should be 

 drawn to the recent action of Switzerland. As has been pointed 

 out, the Isle of Wight disease occurs in that country and in all Mor- 

 genthaler (66) now reports 19 cases of the disease in French Switzer- 

 land. Under these circumstances the prohibition of importations 

 might seem unnecessary, yet the recent action of the Swiss Govern- 

 ment puts such a prohibition into effect and outlines steps for the 

 eradication of the disease already present. The situation with re- 

 gard to the disease in that country is outlined in three recent articles 

 by Leuenberger (63, 64, 65) . 



On April 18, 1923, the Swiss Bundesrat issued a proclamation (68) 

 under which the Isle of Wight disease is included under the animal 

 diseases covered by the Federal law of June 13, 1917, concerning the 

 combating of animal diseases, and the ordinance for its execution 

 dated August 30, 1920. Provision is also made for partial compen- 

 sation by the Federal Government for colonies destroyed in the en- 

 forcement of this law and the several ordinances. Under date of 

 April 25, 1923, the details for the control of the Isle of Wight disease 

 are set forth by the veterinary office of the Swiss Government (69), 

 in which the work of control is assigned to the foulbrood inspectors 

 of the several cantons and the methods of compensation for colonies 

 destroyed are outlined. The importation of bees and combs is for- 

 bidden from March 15, 1923, and as no exceptions to this prohibition 

 have appeared, the prohibition seems to be absolute. It is the evident 

 intention of the Swiss Government to eradicate the Isle of Wight 

 disease which has already appeared in that country and to prevent 

 any further introduction of the disease by this rigid prohibition. 



