168 



Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



FROZEN POULTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



By J. Kirk Hunter. 



The Position and Prospects of the Trade. 



I have just obtained a return of the imports of frozen poultry into 

 Cape Colony for 1902, and find, as I had expected, that they show 

 a marked increase on those for 1901, and although Victoria has par- 

 ticipated in that increase, yet she has not done so to the same extent 

 as the United Kingdom, which now tojis the list. 



The following is a comparative statement of the imports for 1901—2. 



Value. 



Country whence 

 Impoi ted. 



United Kingdom 



New South Wales 



New Zealand 



Queensland . . 



South Australia 



Victoria 



Natal 



Argentine Republic 



Tasmania 



Canada 



1901. 



1902. 



;^13,473 



/23,614 



This is a very fair increase, but it is small as compared with that 

 of Nata.1, the value of whose imports for the year 1901 was £17,720, 

 but for the nine months ending September 30th, 1902 (the latest 

 return available), they amounted to the considerable sum of £44,656. 

 I am unable, at present to secure the returns of the Transsvaal, as in 

 that Colony and Orange River Colony, the classification is ditferent, 

 poultry being included with meat, but I have no doubt whatever that 

 they will show an even higher increase than Natal, especially the 

 Transvaal, as Johannesburg is recognised as a big market for 

 poultry and game of all kinds. 



These returns, such as they are, indicate clearly enough that the 

 African trade in poultry is at present one of considerable dimensions, 

 and is rapidly increasing. The regrettable feature of the figures is 

 that Victoria, which, in 100 1, was at the top of the list, with a trade 

 more than double that of the United Kingdom, which was next 

 highest, is now second on the list, although showing an increase of 

 trade equal to about 12 per cent, as against the big increase of the 

 United Kingdom of over 200 per cent. This reversal of positions is 

 not satisfactory, and it is regrettable losing our pride of place, especi- 

 ally as it is attributed to the superior quality and better value obtained 

 elsewhere. Being endowed so prolifically with unexcelled climatic 

 conditions, with — in normal seasons — ample supplies of cheap feed, 

 regular and frequent facilities of transit, together with the excellent 



