400 Report of Commercial Control Branch, [aug., 



such as they are, have been obtained with arsenical and 

 paraffin dips. 



(3) Without destroying the ticks, the infected ones may be 

 eradicated from the pastures by keeping cattle ofT for a time, 

 and this method is the one which promises most finality. 

 The period, however, is a long one, as the various stages of 

 the tick are capable of a prolonged existence in the event of 

 no host being available. Probably the cattle would have to 

 be kept off for about 14 months to ensure purification. The 

 cleansing of the ticks may be hastened, however, by heavily 

 stocking the pastures with sheep. The latter animals are not 

 susceptible to Red-water, and the infected ticks harmlessly 

 inject their virus into them. If it be not possible to utilise the 

 infected pastures for sheep alone, the number of cases of Red- 

 water in cattle can be greatly reduced by running sheep on 

 the pastures as well as bovines, many of the infected ticks 

 will then go on to the sheep, and in this way be diverted from 

 their bovine hosts. 



A few observations on the value of pasturing sheep with 

 cattle on Red-water land are being now made by the advice 

 of the Board and the results so far are encouraging. 



The Report of the Intelligence Division of the Board for 

 the year ending December 31, 1908, which deals with the work 

 accomplished by the Commercial Con- 

 Report of the tro * Branch has now been issued. [Part 

 Commercial Control I., Cd. 4688. Price 5jd.] 



Branch. The Commercial Control Branch was 



established early in the year, and under- 

 takes inquiries and correspondence as to the administration of 

 the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 1875 to 1907; complaints 

 relating to adulteration of articles of food affecting the 

 interests of agriculture ; the administration of the Fertilisers 

 and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1906; prosecutions under the Mer- 

 chandise Marks (Prosecutions) Act, 1894; and complaints as 

 to rates and facilities for the carriage of agricultural produce 

 by rail. 



The Report describes the numerous cases which were dealt 

 with during the year with a view to the prevention of fraud 

 or misdescription. In many instances prosecutions were 



