97

A.—2

Entrails of the animals in question are only allowed to be imported when they are fully sun-dried or dry-salted. Horns and hoofs which are imported must be fully sun-dried. Unwashed wool and wool which is only body-washed must only be imported under the conditions mentioned in paragraph 1, Part 111. The above restrictions with regard to import of raw parts of animals are not to be put in force when the goods arrive here as goods in transit for re-exportation, but only on the condition that the goods are carried through the country by rail under Customhouse seal or in port are transhipped directly from ship to ship under Customhouse and police control. Under the above conditions permission is given to store such goods in transit in covered lighters or other places approved by the veterinary police. All carriages, lighters, &c, and the implements used in the transport or transhipment and storing of the goods in question are to be disinfected, and the expenses incurred thereby as well as the expenses of the police and Customhouse inspection are to be covered by the receiver of the goods. Paragraph 3: Three Weeks' Isolation at the Place of Destination. Immediately after the arrival in this country the animals are to be examined as to their health' according to the rules in paragraph 4. If they are found to be sound they are (any contact with other, animals being strictly prohibited) to be carried directly to the place of destination, where they are to be isolated from other domestic animals for three weeks under the control of the veterinary police. If they are, after expiration of this time, found perfectly sound by the controlling veterinary surgeon, they are to be handed over to the owner for his free disposal. All expenses incurred in isolation and by veterinary surgeon to be borne by the receiver. Paragraph 4: Sanitary Inspection at Place of Arrival. Immediately after arrival in this country the animals are to be examined as to their healthiness at cost of the receiver, and according to rules further prescribed by the Agricultural Minister. Until the examination has taken place the animals are to be kept isolated from other animals and from unofficial persons. None of the animals imported must be handed over to the importers for their free disposal before the examination of the whole consignment has been finished, and the veterinary surgeon has given his permission to its departure from the place of importation. Examination of animals coming by ship cannot be demanded before the ship has actually arrived alongside the quay. Animals which arrive by ships from foreign countries must not be put ashore before the examination has taken place. If the veterinary surgeon deems it necessary, in order to effect a careful examination that the animals should be brought ashore, this can be done on the condition that the master of the ship binds himself not to leave the port before the Inspector has declared that there is no objection to the import of the animals into the country, and that he further binds himself to take the animals on board again without any expense for the authorities if the examination should show that the import cannot be allowed. If the master of the ship refuses to bind himself in this way, the sanitary examination shall not be carried out, and the veterinary police shall prohibit the animals being brought ashore. The veterinary police can demand that the animals be reported for examination at least four hours before the animals arrive at the unloading place in port or at railway-stations or at the frontier. It is the duty of the importer to give the veterinary surgeon all necessary assistance in carrying out the examination. Paragraph 5 : General Rules. Ships or railway-carriages which arrive here from foreign countries with cloven-footed beasts or goods (the import of which is forbidden at the time of arrival), as well as ships having or having had cloven-footed animals from foreign countries on board, which have died or have been slaughtered on account of illness during the voyage, must not commence unloading before the veterinary police, after having finished the examination of the ship, have given their consent to the unloading and their instructions as to the manner in which such unloading is to be carried out, in order to prevent the spreading of infection. Paragraph 6. Infringements of these regulations are punished according to the rules contained in paragraph 16 of the Act of 14th April, 1893, " Diseases of Domestic Animals," which runs as.follows : " The violation of the terms of this Act or of the regulations based thereon shall be punished with fines of frcm 4CO to 500 kroner unless a heavier penalty has been entailed by the infringement of other laws. For a repetition of the offence the penalty is doubled. Any one who has through his own neglect been the cause of the outbreak of infectious diseases in his live-stock shall lose the right of compensation from the Government to which he might otherwise have been entitled. Any one who in defiance of the regulations for prohibiting the importation of cattle, and without special warrant imports live animals from foreign countries, shall be punished with imprisonment (see paragraph 25 of penal code). All cases concerning infringement of this Act shall be brought before the Police Courts. The fines imposed shall go to the municipal funds." This law shall come into force the Ist July, 1896, from which date all former regulations respecting import of domestic animals and their raw parts to this country from foreign countries are cancelled. Which is hereby brought to the notice of all whom it may concern. Referring to the above publication of same date, the Agricultural Minister further proclaims that the following rules shall be applied in respect to the different countries importing domestic live-stock and their raw parts into this country (see annexed Table A). The importation of dogs is prohibited from all countries except Sweden and Norway. These rules come into force on the Ist of July, 1896.

13—A. 2.