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B-i98 MONTHLY LETTER OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
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Number 70 
A 4 2 £ 1920 
Bry: pre MeE cs 

C, GORDON HEWITT 
On March 1 ceme the. sad news of the death of Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, 
Dominion Entomologist of Canada, Doctor Hewitt died of pneumonia at 
Ottawa after a very short illness, All American entomologists will be 
saddened by the loss of this brilliant young investigator and admirable 
executive. He had founded an excellent service in Canada and had broad 
plans for the future. His cooperation with the entomologists of the 
States was very close and cordial. He was an enthusiastic member of the 
Association cf Economic Entcmologists, and his admirable address as re~ 
tiring president of this organization will be remembered, - L.0.H. 
STORED PRODUCT INSECT INVESTIGATIONS 
EB. A. Back, Entomologist in Charge 
_ Commercial firms are careful not to give out much information re- 
garding losses to stored foods due to insect attack; therefore, the 
following data have a peculiar interest. They are available as 4 re- 
sult of cooperation between this Bureau and the United States Navy. A- 
bout 750 tons each of rice and navy beans ere under consideration. The 
saving effected in this single instance is 26.9 times the amount of the 
appropriation for Stored Product Insects racommended to Congress by the 
Committee on Agriculture (H.R. 12,272; February 16, 1920) for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1921. 
The Navy purchased 1,530,492 pounds of rice at $0.07265 per pound, 
or $111,190.2438. When found slightly infested with the rice weevil and 
recommended for treatment, steps had already been taken to salvage the 
entire lot for $0.0375 per pound. Had the rice been sold at this figure, 
the loss wouid have been 453,796.79. Instead, the supply was recondi- 
tioned at a cost of $0.00832 per pound, or for $12,733.69, and sold after 
reconditioning at $0.0675 per pound, or for $103,308.21. The saving thus 
effected by the treatment of the rice was $33,181.07. | 
Navy beans to the amount of 1,322,614 pounds were purchased by the 
Navy at $0.0925 per pound, or for $122,341.795. When recommended for a 
treatment they were about to be sold by the Salvage Department for $0.0375 
per pound, or for $66,130.70. Instead they were reconditioned at a cost 
of $0.007 per pound, or for $9,258.30. After being reconditioned they 
were sold at $0.09 per pound, or for $119,035.26, Thus the saving ef- 
fected by the treatment was $43,646.26. 
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