South African Produce on the Oversea Market. 201 



Sheep Skins. — Auction sales were held on the 26th February, when 323,789 

 Cape sheep skins were offered and 209.046 sold. On the whole the collection was 

 moderately attractive. In many cases the comlnng and long-woolled sknis were 

 irregular in growth of wool, and there were few large strings of Western 

 Province origin. 



The skins sold at the following average prices : — 

 Extra long wool. 26Jd. to 30d. up to 33:id. per lb. 

 Long wool. 24d. to 272d. up to 29id. per lb. 

 Short wool. 18d. to 21d. up to 2o5d. per lb. 

 Shorn wool. 17id. to 20d. up to 23id. per lb. 

 Lambs. 17d. to 21d. up to 24id. per lb. 

 Coarse long wool. 19Jd. to 20d. up to 21^d. per lb. 



Glovers' Skins. — Of 68,788 common Cape (Glovers') sheep skins offered 

 9294 sold. The small turnover was practically confined to the standard selec- 

 tions of large and medium skins, and of the.se Mossel Bay consignments sold at 

 an advance of about 15 per cent, over the January auction rates. In by-sorts 

 there was little or no trade, and the limits imposed by shippers are far above the 

 figures at which glove manufacturers find it worth while to put such grades 

 into work. 



Common (Glover.^'). — Extra large. loOs. to 195s. up to 235s. per dozen; 

 medium, 120s. to 135s. up to 200s. per dozen ; light medium, 80s. to 100s. up to 

 125s. per dozen 



Wattle Hark and Extract. — The present price for chopped is £21. 15s. and for 

 ground £22. 10s. Extract is at present standing at £47 c.i.f. with upward 

 tendency in .sympathy with Quebracho. 



Ostrich Feathers. — Since the sales on the 2nd February the market has 

 been rather quiet, but prices have remained firm. Broken wings, common blacks 

 and drabs and boos are in fair demand, but best wings are not much inquired 

 for at the moment. The market is still handicapped by the low rate of 

 exchange between Paris and London. 



Meat. — During the month several parcels of South African beef were placed 

 on the market, and the quality was somewhat better than certain previous 

 shipments this season. A price up to 7s. a stone (8 lb.) for hindquarters has 

 been made for prime quality, but the greater portion averaged from 5s. lOd. to 

 6s. 6d. for hinds and 4s. 6d. for forequarters 



Scab: Protected Districts. 



The Scab Regulations provide for the establishment of " Protected 

 Areas," i.e. areas which are either wholly free from scab or contain 

 a small percentage of infection only, and into which no stock is 

 allowed, unless clean and twice dipped under supervision of an 

 inspector. In the beginning of 1917 eight districts in the Cape Pro- 

 vince were proclaimed protected. This number was gradu-illy in- 

 creased, with the result that (at the beginning of March) in the "Jape 

 51 districts are so protected; in the Orange Free State, 5; in the 

 Transvaal, 6; and in Natal, 5. 



In addition, three districts in the Cape and three in the Orange 

 Free State are undergoing a compulsory dipping with a view to pro- 

 tection. On account of the very severe drought of the past year, it 

 was not possible to carry out dipping to any extent, otherwise greater 

 progress woiild have been shown. It may be mentioned that from the 

 Cape Peninsula to East London all the coastal districts are protected. 



