1905.] Eradication of Sheep Scab in Scotland. 519 



two-thirds of Scotland. It had a sheep population of more 

 than three and a-half millions, and included some very wild and 

 difficult country, such as islands, mountains, moor, and forest, 

 where the obstacles to the success of a general dipping order 

 would be strongest. 



The very cordial support, however, given to the Order by the 

 local authorities and the chief flockmasters of the district 

 affected, enabled the regulations to be carried out successfully 

 in nearly every case within the time appointed. 



The principal objects to be secured, if the desired results 

 were to be achieved, were as follows : The dipping of all the 

 sheep within as short a period as was compatible with the 

 circumstances, the separation of the dipped from the undipped 

 sheep, and the enforcement of restriction on movement 

 out of the area. In order to secure the last object it was 

 necessary that the Order should be brought into force before 

 the general movement began. In the part of Scotland affected 

 the movement begins about the middle of July, or a little 

 earlier, and continues till the end of September, a few 

 animals remaining even till October. A period of from two 

 to three months was, however, considered too long for the 

 purposes of the dipping regulations, and after some discussion 

 and debate it was arranged that all the dipping was to take 

 place between the 15th July and 31st August. In order to 

 prevent any evasion of the regulations it was decided that the 

 dipping was to be carried out under the supervision of the local 

 authorities, and in one of the dips approved by the Board. 

 All owners of sheep were required to give adequate notice to 

 the local authorities of the date when they proposed to dip, in 

 order that proper supervision might be provided for, and they 

 were to produce, if necessary, satisfactory evidence that the 

 prescribed dipping had been thoroughly and efficiently carried 

 out. For this purpose proper forms were printed and circulated. 



By the date fixed all the local authorities, except in the 

 county of Elgin, had made satisfactory preparations and 

 appointed inspectors. Here there was a failure to appoint any 

 inspectors during the first fortnight of the operation of the 

 Order, and it would probably have been impossible for the 

 Board to accept the dipping during this time as satisfactory had 



