274 Agricultv/ral Journal of Victoria. 



operations lias done much to put the export of canned rabbit par- 

 ticularly and other goods on a sound basis. The strict inspection of 

 canned goods is an absolute necessity if we wish to preserve this 

 rather extensive and promising industry. It affords considerable 

 employment to many people, and the meat used for the purpose of 

 canning would not be suitable for export in the carcase, as it is of a 

 quality which would not do justice to our frozen meat trade. As a 

 matter of fact, it is meat from fairly nourished but small carcases. 

 In some seasons there are unlimited supplies of this, and the proper 

 inspection of the works at which the meat is canned must be carried 

 on, so as to promote assurance in the minds of consumers abroad, that 

 the Government will not allow exportation from the State of any 

 product of doubtful soundness. In previous reports I have drawn 

 attention to the fact, that during the hot summer months the caiming 

 of rabbits should be stopped, as the flesh is prone to rapid decay. 



The outlook for the canning season is decidely encouraging, and 

 the freezing accommodation of the State will be sorely taxed to keep 

 abreast of the business. The coming season, in all probability, will be 

 a prodigious one, and graziers will have to dispose of their stock as 

 cash will be wanted after the bad times that have been encountered. 

 Independently of London and Africa, markets already exist in the 

 Mediterranean and the East for our meats. The naval and military 

 stations in the East are likely to absorb large quantities from Victoria, 

 but I am afraid the freezing space will not exist to treat all the stock 

 that will be offering. In England large quantities of our meats find 

 their way into the military stations, and the authorities now require 

 each carcase to have a tag attached certifying to its inspection. 



Only about half the number of carcases of lamb were exported 

 during the season, but twice as many carcases of mutton as compared 

 with the previous one. The differences can be explained when we 

 view the seasons. Last season the lambs perished from drought ; the 

 previous season they were hurried from the pastures to avoid it. Last 

 season ewes and wethers were parted with to the exporters to save 

 them from perishing from want of food. Notwithstanding the short- 

 age of veal, beef, and pork, for local trade purposes, exporters found 

 it profitable to send away considerable quantities last year. The veal 

 and pork killed on the farms should, as I have recommended in 

 previous reports, be properly bled and dressed, and sent to the 

 Melbourne markets in cheesecloth or hessian bags. 



The trade in frozen rabbits is increasing rapidly. Trappers would 

 do well to follow out all my recommendations in the pamphlet 

 published by the Department on " Hints to Rabbit Trappers." They 

 would save considerable loss if the directions were faithfully fulfilled. 

 Every year thousands upon thousands of rabbits are condemned as 

 unfit for food through seasonal influences and caTclessness on the 

 part of trappers. 



The poultry e^fport still maintains its vig'our, l)ut in consequence 

 of the high price of feed prevailing last season, the birds did not 

 come into the markets in that excellent condition noticeable in previous 



