Official Publications. 



265 



The report of the Assistant Secretary relates more particularly 

 to the executive action taken by the Department in connection 

 with the diseases which are directly administered by the central 

 authority, and the precautions taken to guard the country from 

 the introduction of diseased animals. The reasons which 

 weighed with the Board in taking action in any particular 

 direction are set forth, and the effect of the policy adopted is 

 discussed. The steps taken to prevent the spread of foot-and- 

 mouth disease, should it have appeared in any of the cargoes 

 from the New England States, are described. In connection 

 with the prohibition of the importation of animals from Argen- 

 tina on account of that disease, figures are given showing that the 

 total amount of beef and mutton imported from that country 

 was, in 1902, about 7 per cent, greater than in 1899 (prior to 

 prohibition), and it is also shown that the predominant factors in 

 the rise of the price of meat in Great Britain were the shortage of 

 the supply from the United States, due largely to the failure of 

 the maize crop the year before, and, in a lesser degree, to the 

 shortage of the supply from Australia, due to the continued 

 drought in that continent. A large portion of the report is 

 devoted to the discussion of the position as regards swine fever, 

 which was, at the close of the year, unusually favourable, the 

 figures for 1902 — 1,688 — showing a decline of 252 outbreaks as 

 compared with the lowest figures previously recorded. The 

 improvement had become apparent in the summer months of 

 the year under review, and the Board determined to recommend 

 to all local authorities the adoption of well-considered regu- 

 lations designed to protect their districts from the risks which 

 would follow the importation of diseased swine, regard being 

 had to the particular requirements of the locality. The form of 

 regulations suggested is printed as an appendix to the report. 

 As examples of the good effects to be expected from the 

 adoption of such regulations, the experience of the counties of 

 Cheshire, Somerset, and Wilts are quoted. The swine fever 

 position is graphically shown by maps relating to the years 

 1900, 1901, and 1902, and a table is given in the appendix 

 showing the number of outbreaks of swine fever in each county 

 of Great Britain during each year from 1894 to 1902. In connec- 

 tion with sheep scab, the powers possessed by local authorities 



