1904.] 



Report of Sheep-Dipping Committee. 



359 



When two dippings are carried out at a less interval than four- 

 teen days the experiments and evidence prove that arsenical 

 dips should not be used on both occasions. 



With regard to the legislative measures for dealing with sheep- 

 scab, the Committee observe that the powers conferred by the 

 Sheep Scab Order of 1898 are very wide, and can be worked 

 very effectually ; but, unfortunately, the local authorities, who are 

 responsible for the efficient administration of the Order, are 

 very diverse in their action and in the interest they take in the 

 eradication of the disease. By the use of the powers of inspec- 

 tion conferred upon the Board of Agriculture in Section 2 

 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1903, a more effective and 

 zealous administration may be secured, and especially with 

 regard to those provisions dealing with isolation of infected or 

 suspected flocks, and the thorough disinfecting of infected 

 premises or folds. The inspection by the central authority 

 should also prove very beneficial in securing an exhaustive 

 examination into the origin of every recorded outbreak of 

 disease, and the actual source of the infection. At present the 

 local authority has no power and seldom any desire to trace 

 back the outbreak to any source beyond its own area. 



Another subject referred to by the Committee is the dissatis- 

 faction which prevails in different parts of the country with 

 regard to the very stringent and diverse restrictions placed upon 

 the movement of sheep into their respective areas by the local 

 authorities. These restrictions act in a manner seriously preju- 

 dicial to the trade of sheep -farming, and in any new regulations 

 which may be put in force the Committee suggest that uniformity 

 of regulation should, as far as possible, be attained. 



On the question of compulsory dipping the Committee state 

 that, after consideration of the evidence from our own flock 

 owners and from the Colonies, they have no hesitation in recom- 

 mending that an annual dipping of all sheep within the United 

 Kingdom should be made obligatory upon all flock-owners, and 

 that this dipping should be carried out by the local authorities, 

 acting under regulations approved by the Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries and by the Department of Agriculture and 

 Technical Instruction for Ireland. To carry out effectual uni- 

 versal dipping is, they observe, no light task ; but it is the only 



