231 



The pigs which are fattened on this refuse are chiefly exported to 

 Ipoh and other centres of industry, by rail. The excess export over 

 import of them has been : — 



1909 

 1910 

 1911 



1912 

 1913 



2,527 animals 

 5,768 „ 



10,802 



17.423 



16,849 



That the growth of this trade has marched with the diminution 

 of the excess export of tapioca flour and refuse is evident ; and it is 

 almost certain that the cessation of the abundant supply of tapioca 

 refuse, which in Malacca caused to cease the export trade in pigs, 

 will choke the trade of Penang also, where the price of pork has 

 been rising, as it did in Malacca. Therefore it is earnestly to be 

 hoped that the price of tapioca will rise enough to make its 

 harvesting remunerative, for all three reasons, viz: (I) for the sake 

 of a profit to the grower, (2) for the sake of a business to the 

 manufacturer, and (3) for the sake of a cheap pig food from the 

 refuse. The manufacture of material for industrial alcohol might 

 make the tapioca to pay, where otherwise it does not. 



The fall in price of tapioca may be thus illustrated from the 

 Singapore market. The figures are of the price given in the fifst 

 week of each month as they appeared in the " Straits Times," of 

 December 31st, 1913. 



1912. 



January 9.20 July 9.25 



February 8.90 August 9. 1 5 



March 9. 10 September 9.00 



April 9.50 October 8.75 



May 9.10 November 7.50 



June 9.30 December 7.70 



Sago refuse goes to fatten pigs along with the tapioca refuse ; 

 and the same absorption of what is available has been going on. 

 The former considerable export of flour has been steadily reduc- 

 ed, as the second column of the following table shows : — 



1913- 



