NEAT CATTLE QUARANTINE REGULATIONS. In order that those interested in the importation of cattle may have the benefit of the rules and regulations governing this subject, the fol lowing circulars, issued by the Secretary of the Treasury previous to the transfer of the quarantine stations to the control of the Commissioner of Agriculture, and those since issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture, are given below: [Circular.-Importation of neat cattle.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., July 19, 1879. To collectors of customs and others: The order of the 26th of February last, prohibiting the importation of neat cattle from England, is revoked. By authority of section 2493 of the Revised Statutes, it is ordered: That the operation of the first clause of that section, which prohibits the importation of neat cattle from any foreign country into the United States, be suspended as to all ports of Europe, the Secretary having officially determined that such importation will not tend to the introduction or spread of contagious or infectious diseases among the cattle of the United States: Provided, That all neat cattle from any port of Europe arriving at any port of the United States shall be kept in quarantine for not less than ninety days, under the direction of the customs officers, and at the expense of the parties interested, except when State or municipal laws provide for the quarantine of such cattle, and in such cases collectors will permit the proper officers to quarantine them in such manner as the State or municipal authorities require. The Department will, upon application, consider special cases where it may be claimed, during such quarantine, that the cattle came from entirely healthy localities direct to the United States, and will decide in such cases whether they may be delivered at a period shorter than ninety days before mentioned. In any case where, during quarantine not under control of State or municipal authorities, the animals shall exhibit evidence of infectious or contagious disease, the facts will be reported to the Department for instructions. H. F. FRENCH, Acting Secretary. [Circular.-Prohibiting importation of neat cattle from Canada.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, To collectors and other officers of the customs: To aid in preventing the introduction into the United States of contagious diseases among cattle, it is hereby ordered that, in pursuance of the authority contained in section 2493 of the Revised Statutes, the importation of neat cattle from the Dominion of Canada is prohibited until otherwise directed. This order will take effect on the 1st of December next. H. F. FRENCH, Assistant Secretary. [Circular.-Importation of neat cattle.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., December 27, 1879. To collectors of customs and others: The circular published in decision No. 4104, of July 19, 1879, provided as follows: "That all neat cattle from any port of Europe, arriving at any port of the United States, shall be kept in quarantine for not less than ninety days, under the direction of the customs officers and at the expense of the parties interested, except when State or municipal laws provide for the quarantine of such cattle, and in such cases collectors will permit the proper officers to quarantine them in such manner as the State or municipal authorities require." Collectors of customs are hereby instructed that in all cases a quarantine of not less than ninety days shall be enforced, including any term during which such cattle shall be quarantined under State or municipal authority. Cattle from Australia and New Zealand will be regarded as embraced within order No. 4104, as hereby amended. H. F. FRENCH, [Circular.-Importation of neat cattle.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., February 26, 1880. To collectors of customs and others: It appearing to this Department that, by an order in council of the Dominion of Canada, of the 4th of October, 1879, all neat cattle coming from Europe are subjected, on entering the ports of Quebec, Halifax, and Saint John, to a quarantine of ninety days, the order of November 3, 1879, prohibiting the importation of neat cattle from the Dominion of Canada is revoked. By authority of section 2493 of the Revised Statutes, it is ordered that the operation of the first clause of that section, which prohibits the importation of neat cattle from any foreign country into the United States, be suspended as to the Dominion of Canada, the Secretary having officially determined that such importation will not tend to the introduction or spread of any infectious or contagious disease among the cattle of the United States. This order will take effect on March 1, 1880. H. F. FRENCH, Assistant Secretary. [Circular.-Exportation of cattle to Great Britain.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., March 18, 1880. To collectors of customs and others: The Department's circular order of February 1, 1879, requiring the inspection of neat eattle with reference to the question whether they were free from contagious diseases, is hereby revoked. That order was issued upon information that an inspection and certificate by our officers might prevent the United States from being included in the order of the Government of Great Britain that cattle from certain countries must be slaughtered at the ports of that country within ten days from arrival. By an order of the privy couneil of Great Britain cattle from the United States are now included in the abovenamed order, and are required to be thus slaughtered. Hereafter, therefore, inspection of cattle shipped from the ports of the United States will not be made compulsory, but inspection may be made upon request of the shippers and at their expense under Order No. 139, of December 18, 1878, and the regulations and instructions now in force. Collectors of customs are requested to forward to this Department any information which they may be able to obtain of the presence of pleuro-pneumonia or other contagious or infectious diseases prevailing among neat cattle in their vicinity. By order: H. F. FRENCH, [Circular.-Quarantine of cattle.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, To collectors of customs and others : Circular No. 179, of December 27, 1879, which requires a quarantine of neat cattle imported from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, is amended by adding thereto the following: Neat cattle imported from the countries named may be quarantined at any place which, in the opinion of the collector, may be suitable, and to which they can be transported from the importing vessel at the port of arrival to such place of quarantine by another vessel without further transfer. An inspector will be required to accompany such cattle to the place of quarantine at the expense of the parties. H. F. FRENCH, [Circular.-Regulations governing the treatment and quarantine of imported cattle.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., June 8, 1883. To collectors and other officers of the customs: (1) All cattle arriving in the United States from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or New Zealand, shall be subjected to a quarantine of ninety days, counting from the date of shipment. It shall be the duty of the veterinary inspector at each port to see that the cattle imported shall be securely guarded against the risk of transmitting or receiving contagion until they shall have entered the quarantine grounds, and all imported cattle shall be under his control from the time of landing until they reach the quarantine grounds. He shall also be superintendent of the quarantine, and shall have charge of the grounds, buildings, yards, and all property thereto belonging. Collectors of customs are requested to co-operate with the veterinary inspectors and health authorities in enforcing these regulations, and will take such action as the facts and regulations may require. (2) Imported cattle shall be examined by the Government veterinary inspector before they leave the wharves, and if any are there found to be suffering from any of the following diseases-lung plague, rinderpest, aphthous (eczematous) fever-they shall not be admitted to the established quarantine grounds, but shall be quarantined elsewhere, at the expense of the importer, or be dealt with in such other manner as the veterinary inspector, in co-operation with the State or municipal authorities shall determine. (3) In case of imported animals proving to be thus infected, such portions of the cargo of the vessel as have been exposed to the cattle or their emanations shall be subjected, under the direction of an inspector, to fumigation with gas from burning sulphur, or to such other disinfection as may be considered by the veterinary inspector of the port necessary before they can be landed. (4) No litter, fodder, or other aliment, nor any ropes, straps, chains, girths, blankets, poles, buckets, or other things used for or about the animals, and no manure shall be landed, excepting under such regulations as the veterinary inspector shall provide. (5) On moving cattle from the ocean steamer to the quarantine grounds, they shall not be unnecessarily passed over any highway, but must be placed on the cars at the wharves or removed to the cars on a boat which is not used for conveying other cattle. If such boat has carried sheep, goats, or swine within three months antecedent, it must be first cleansed and then disinfected under the supervision of the veterinary inspector, and after the conveyance of the imported cattle the boat shall be disinfected in the same manner before it can be again used for the conveyance of cattle. The expense of such disinfection shall be paid by the United States. When passage across or upon a public highway is unavoidable in the transportation of imported cattle from the place of landing to the quarantine grounds, it must be under such careful supervision and restrictions as the veterinary inspector may, in special cases, direct. (6) The banks or chutes used for loading and unloading imported cattle shall be reserved for such animals or shall be cleansed and disinfected, as above, before and after being used for such imported cattle. (7) The railway cars used in the transportation of cattle to the quarantine grounds shall either be cars reserved for this exclusive use or box cars not otherwise employed in the transportation of meat animals or their fresh products, and after each journey with cattle to the quarantine grounds they shall be disinfected by thorough cleansing and disinfecting under the direction of the Government veterinary inspector. The charge of such disinfection shall be paid by the United States. (8) While cattle are arriving at the quarantine stations, or leaving them, all quarantined stock in the yards adjoining the alley ways through which they must pass shall be rigidly confined to their sheds. (9) Cattle arriving by the same ship may be quarantined together in one yard and shed, but those coming on different ships shall, in all cases, be placed in separate yards. (10) The gates of all yards shall be kept locked, except when cattle are entering or leaving quarantine. (11) The attendants on cattle in particular yards are forbidden to enter other yards and buildings, except such as are occupied by stock of the same shipment with those under their special care. No dogs, cats, or other animals, except those necessarily present shall be allowed in the quarantine grounds. (12) The allotment of yards shall be under the direction of the veterinary inspector of the port, who shall keep a register of the cattle entered, with description, name of owner, name of vessel in which imported, date of arrival and release, and other important particulars. (13) The veterinary inspector shall see that water is regularly furnished to the stock, and the manure removed daily, and that the prescribed rules of the station are enforced. (14) Food and attendance must be provided by the owners of the stock quarantined. Employés of such owners shall keep the sheds and yards clean, to the satisfaction of the veterinary inspector. (15) "Smoking" is strictly forbidden within any quarantine inclosure. (16) No visitor shall be admitted to the quarantine station without special written permission from the collector of customs of the port, the veterinary inspector, or a member of the Treasury Cattle Commission. Butchers, cattle-dealers, and their employés are especially excluded. (17) No public sale shall be allowed within the quarantine grounds. (18) The inspector shall, in his daily rounds, so far as possible, take the temperature of each animal, commencing with the herds that have been longest in quarantine, and ending with the most recent arrivals, and shall record such temperatures on lists kept for the purpose. In passing from one herd to another he shall invariably wash his thermometer and hands in a weak solution (1 to 100) of carbolic acid. (19) In case of the appearance of any disease that is diagnosed to be of a contagious nature, the veterinary inspector shall notify the chairman or other professional member of the Treasury Cattle Commission, who shall visit the station personally or send a delegate, and on the confirmation of the diagnosis, the herd shall be disposed of according to the gravity of the affection. (20) If the disease should prove to be one of the exotic plagues-lung plague or rinderpest-the animals shall be dealt with in such manner as the veterinary inspector, in co-operation with the State or municipal authorities, shall determine. (21) The yard and shed in which such disease shall have appeared shall be subjected to a thorough disinfection. Litter and fodder shall be burned. Sheds, utensils, and other appliances shall be disinfected as the veterinary inspector may direct. The yard fence and manure-box shall be freely sprinkled with a strong solution of chloride of lime. The flooring of the shed shall be lifted, and the whole shall be left open to the air, and unoccupied for three months. (22) If the contagious disease shall prove to be aphthous fever, anthrax, Texas fever, cow-pox, diphtheria, or scabies, the infected herd shall be rigidly confined to its shed, where disinfectants shall be freely used, and the attendants shall be forbidden all intercourse with the attendants in other yards, and with persons outside the quarantine grounds. CHAS. J. FOLGER, Secretary. [Circular.-Importation of neat cattle.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., July 30, 1883, To collectors of customs and others: Sections 2493 and 2495 of the Revised Statutes, re-enacted in the act approved March 3, 1883, as sections 2494 and 2495, respectively (p. 6, T. I., new), provide as follows: "SEC. 2494. The importation of neat cattle and the hides of neat cattle from any foreign country into the United States is prohibited: Provided, That the operation of this section shall be suspended as to any foreign country or countries, or any parts of such country or countries, whenever the Secretary of the Treasury shall officially de termine, and give public notice thereof, that such importation will not tend to the introduction or spread of contagious or infectious diseases among the cattle of the United States; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and empowered, and it shall be his duty, to make all necessary orders and regulations to carry this law into effect, or to suspend the same as therein provided, and to send copies thereof to the proper officers of the United States, and to such officers or agents of the United States in foreign countries as he shall judge necessary. “SEC. 2495. Any person convicted of a willful violation of any of the provisions of the preceding section shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding one year, or both, in the discretion of the court." An act of March 3, 1883, page 613, statutes of second session of Forty-seventh Congress, makes the following appropriation: To enable the Secretary of the Treasury to co-operate with State and municipal authorities and corporations and persons engaged in the transportation of neat cattle by land or water in establishing regulations for the safe conveyance of such cattle from the interior to the seaboard, and the shipment thereof, so that such cattle may not be exposed to the disease known as pleuro-pneumonia or lung plague, and to prevent the spread of said disease and to establish quarantine stations, and provide proper shelter for ueat cattle imported, at such ports as he may deem necessary, $50,000." Although sections 2494 and 2495 of the Revised Statutes as incorporated in the act of March 3, 1883, are not materially changed, they have the force of new law, and the Secretary of the Treasury, by virtue thereof, hereby gives public notice that he has officially determined that the importation of neat cattle, subject to the conditions hereinafter prescribed, will not tend to the introduction or spread of contagious or infectious diseases among the cattle of the United States. The operations of the sections of the law prohibiting the importation of neat cattle and the hides of neat cattle into the United States are therefore suspended, but upon the condition that importers and owners of neat cattle shall submit to and abide by such orders and regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury has prescribed, or may from time to time prescribe to carry the above laws into effect. All the existing orders of the Department under the sections which have been revised will remain in force under the present provisions, except as herein modified. All neat cattle arriving in the United States from any part of the world, except North and South America, will be subjected to a quarantine of ninety days, counting from the date of shipment. As the Dominion of Canada maintains quarantine for all imported cattle, no quarantine for cattle imported from Canada is provided. For general information, it is deemed proper to state that permanent arrangements have been completed for quarantine accommodations of imported cattle as follows: At Dearing, for Portland, Me., for about 215 head; at Waltham, for Boston, Mass., for about 300 head; at Garfield, N. J., for New York, for about 450 head; and at Baltimore, Md., for about 350 head, full grown animals, and that these arrangements will be extended as may be deemed necessary. As each importation is kept isolated from all others, full numbers cannot always be accommodated, while larger numbers than the above estimates of small animals may be received. It is obviously impossible to provide at each port for all the cattle that may be imported into the whole country, and all will see the necessity of using the accommodations, where not only shelter is provided at large expense, but veterinary inspectors or custodians are employed at annual salaries. Experience already shows that importers have preferences as to the place of quarantine, so that the station at one port is full while that at another is nearly empty. Importers of cattle, therefore, in order to secure accommodations at the port where the cattle are imported, should give notice to the collector of the expected importation, so as to secure quarantine accommodations, which will be provided in the order in which notice thereof is given, If, owing to lack of accommodations, cattle cannot be quarantined at the port where they arrive, they will be transferred at the expense of the importer to some other quarantine station where sufficient accommodations do exist, preference being given to stations where there is no danger of infection. Where there are more cattle for quarantine than the regular Government stations can accommodate, special arrangeinents for quarantine outside the stations may be made by the collector of the port where they arrive, upon consultation with the cattle commission or the superintendent in charge. The order by which importers have been allowed to quarantine cattle at such points as they might select, where cattle could be transported by water, is rescinded, and all imported cattle will be quarantined at the Government stations, except as above provided. Consular officers abroad to whom this circular may be sent are requested to bring its contents to the notice of shippers of cattle, so that they may be fully informed of the regulations of this Department upon the subject before making shipments. H. F. FRENCH, |