To Both Bob and Jerry,
My mentor who introduced me to beekeeping in 1932, Dr. James I. Hambleton
was Chief Apiculturist of the FEDERAL government from 1922-66 here in
Maryland,
now the Beltsville Bee Lab.  He personally announced and started state bee
inspections all over the U. S. in an effort to destroy AFB.  In 1922 it was
estimated that one-third of al the colonies in the U. S. had AFB, and the advent
of the automobile and truck and building of roads was dramatically the spread
of AFB.

Maryland began state bee inspection in 1922 by state paid employees at NO
costs
to the beekeeper.  Every colony in Maryland has to be inspected at least
every 3
years, even commercial operations of 1000 colonies. No colony can enter or
leave the state without an inspection.  The INSPECTOR has the legal right to
come on your
property WITHOUT NOTICE and inspect your bees.  If he tries to stop you,
prevent
inspection, or hides his bees, he is subject to sheriff search and legal
prosecution.
This is not often done, but a few have been jailed for failure to comply.

If AFB in a colony by the inspector, the bees are IMMEDIATELY destroyed even
if the
beekeeper is not home.  The woodenware is sealed up by the inspector, the
beekeeper notified, and the beekeeper has a choice of paying for its
sterilization
in Maryland's Ethylene Oxide chamber, burning it, or boiling it in lye.
For years and years, Maryland has enjoyed one of the lowest AFB rates in the
country, about 1% of all inspected colonies.

Inspection is the BEST FRIEND a beekeeper can have, and it sure badly hurts
those
mavericks who don't give a damn about their neighbor's bees.  We  officers of
the
13 State beekeeper associations STRONGLY support bee inspection, and we all
REPORT anybody owning beehives to the bee Inspection Office.

Like all states, Maryland overspent its budget on some damn welfare program a
few
years ago, and of course the legislature cut back on the salaries pa id to
our six inspectors.  Maryland beekeepers reacted in strength, and now every
year, we beekeepers DONATE money to our inspection service to maintain inspection,
and most
of us campaign strongly against those legislators who voted to cut back of
bee inspection.  I am very proud of "crucifying" the jerk from my county who
voted for
bee inspection cutback after I went to his office and detailed the value of
honey bee pollination to our human food supply, and this smart ass lawyer
replied, we can always import honey if need be and don't have to have bees that
sting our Maryland
citizens.

It is things like this that keep scrapping like an 18 year old when I am in
my 80's.
My friends call me General Patton, and I am proud of that.  Due to strokes, I
have
difficulty both walking and talking, but I can still vent my wrath,
compliment my
friends, and TEACH good beekeeping with my PINK PAGES.

'Nough Said - no doubt too much

George Imirie, retired scientist
Certified EAS Master Beekeeper
Starting my 72nd year of successful beekeeping just 20 miles from the WHITE
HOUSE

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