1910.] Prevention of Damage to Hides, etc. 621 



drew his attention to the importance and extent of the trade 

 in these products, and especially to the depreciation in value 

 arising from several causes. The points to which the attention 

 of the Board were directed are discussed below. 



The Warble Fly. — One of the most destructive insect pests 

 in this country is the Warble Fly, which is injurious to the 

 living animal, to the hide, and to the meat. Though the flies 

 do not sting or pierce the skin, it is believed by some investi- 

 gators that they have a peculiarly irritating effect on stock, 

 and that when tormented by them, cattle will rush wildly 

 about the fields in their endeavour to avoid the flies. Careful 

 observations made in Ireland showed that cattle and par- 

 ticularly calves were extremely sensitive to the approach of 

 the Warble Fly. In the case of fattening animals, this would 

 occasion a loss of weight, while it would be still more 

 injurious to cows by diminishing the supply of milk. With 

 in-calf cows also loss may arise from this cause, simple 

 abortion being the result of the excitement and exertion. 



The maggots or bots living beneath the skin are also 

 a source of irritation to the cattle, and by perforating the hide 

 seriously damage it for tanning purposes. Thirdly, the meat 

 round the wounds is frequently so altered by the inflammation 

 set up that it is quite unfit for sale. When the hide is stripped 

 from a carcass, the affected parts appear as straw-coloured, 

 jelly-like patches on the surface of the meat. This is known 

 in the trade as "licked beef," and it has to be entirely cut 

 away, thus causing substantial loss, especially as it is usually 

 found in the most expensive parts. 



Various estimates have been made from time to time of 

 the loss caused by the Warble Fly, but there are no reliable 

 data on which an opinion can be formed. As an example 

 of the comparative prevalence of the fly it may be mentioned 

 that the Board were recently informed that in the case of a 

 tannery where 132,000 hides were dealt with in one year, 

 40,000 of these were found to be damaged by Warble Fly, 

 but in another case only 1,500 out of 20,000 were affected. 

 The damaged hides were depreciated in value from 2s. 6d. io 

 5« ; : per hide. 



A point of considerable importance to the tanning industry 

 is that the warbles, when in an immature state, cannot easily 



