258 



Journal ot' the Department of Agriculture. 



EXPORT OF SOUTH AFRICAN EGGS AND 

 POULTRY, YEAR 1919. 



Report by W. 0. John, Officer Administering Egg Export 

 Regulations, Elsenburg School of Agriculture, Mulders Vlei. 



Owing to difficulties in obtaining steamer space, there was no over- 

 sea export during 1918. By 1919 conditions had somewhat 

 improved, the armistice had been concluded, and the high hopes for 

 better export facilities in 1919 were not disappointed,' more than 

 sufficient space being available. 



The shipments for the year 1919 were as follows : February, 2166 

 cases ; September, 5321 cases ; October, 4166 cases ; and November, 

 4527 cases. Total, 16,180 cases. 



This constitutes another record in our egg export. Previous 

 exports were : — 



Vear. No. of Cases. Year. No. of Cases. Year. No. of Cases. 



1914 ... 1,927 IQIC) ... 14,'.159 1918 ... Nil. 



1915 ... 5,968 1917 ... 12,18i^ 1919 ... 16,180 

 It will be seen that steady progress is being made with our export 



business, while at the same time the interests of the South African 

 consumer are guarded. At no time during the year was there aj 

 dearth of eggs on the home markets, care being taken to safeguard 

 against any possible shortage. Charges have been levelled at the 

 Department of permitting over-export, and that eggs will be 8s. to 

 10s. a dozen during coming autumn and winter in conseqlience. It 

 may be well to show the fallacy of such an argument. 



During the year 1919, the Union exported to United Kingdom 

 ports 5,938,072 eggs, and our total exports to all countries reached 

 7,613,824 eggs. It will therefore be seen that our total export was less 

 than one egg per head of fowls, the numbers of fowls in the Union 

 being 8,436,140, according to the Agricultural Census of 5th May, 1918. 



This, I think, proves conclusively that South Africa has not 

 over-exported. 



The following returns show the export of eggs and poultry, both 

 as merchandise and ships' stores during the year 1919: — 



