Report of the Inspector of Foods for Export. 273 



REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF FOODS FOR 



EXPORT. 



A. A. Broirn, M.B., B.8. 



Frozen Meat, &c. 



The volume of meat exportatious for the year will come perhaps 

 as a surprise, when we consider that the disastrous drought only broke 

 up generally in April last. The effects of the drought were keenly felt 

 in the Riverina, which had always been regarded as the chief centre 

 from which Victorian exporters drew their sxn)])lies. During the 

 season 1901-2, the mutton and lamb that came from that district, as 

 well as much of that from our own State, arrived in Melbourne in very 

 backward condition. As a matter of fact, through the adverse seasonal 

 influences, the lambs never had a chance of getting fat, and whatever 

 condition sheep may have gained during more favourable periods 

 was lost when the pastures began to get bare. 



In the season of 1901-2, the average Aveight of lambs exported was 

 about 29 lbs., and of mutton 37 lbs. ; but in 1902-3, the average 

 weights were about 32 lbs. for lambs, and for mutton 42 lbs. 



In consequence of the severity of the drought in the Riverina very 

 little of the supplies for export in the past year came from that 

 district, the supplies being practically drawn from within our own State. 

 At the outset of the season prices for stock ruled firm, but as the summer 

 advanced and feed and water began to get scarce, graziers were afraid 

 of being overstocked, so prices relaxed, and exporters entered the 

 field. In some cases even the ewes, that should have been kept for 

 breeding purposes, had to be disposed of, so terrible were the straits 

 to which some graziers were reduced. 



African, British, Mediterranean, China and other Eastern markets 

 were exploited, and the prices realised have been very satisfactory to 

 our merchants. With the East there is every prospect of a steady 

 trade during the whole year being maintained. London prices last 

 season for lamb were : — Prime 5i|d., seconds 5d. ; Mutton, prime, 42(1., 

 seconds Id. per lb. In consequence of extended and careful methods 

 of inspection by Messrs. Lowe and Peppard in the Metropolitan area 

 and Geelong, and Mr. Terry in the V^^estern District, I have no 

 hesitation in saying that the (juality of the meat })assed for ex]iort left 

 no room for criticism. 



Large numbers of sheep from tbe Rivevina and from the Wimmera 

 Avere canned last year. Owniers were forced to part with the stock to 

 preservers, as no water or grass existed on the stations from which 

 they came. Canning o])erations in the metropolitan area have become 

 somewhat extensive, and the efforts of Messrs. Peppard, Lowe and 

 myself in condemning inferior commodities have brought al)out 

 recognition that stringent inspection during and after canning 



