480 Journal of the Department op Agriculture, 



NOTES. 



Ostrich Feathers. 



The ostrich feather industry of South Africa, which dates from 

 the year 1865, has been subject to depressions and booms from time 

 to time. It boomed in the late 'seventies and early 'eighties, while 

 a few years later it collapsed, reviving again in the later 'nineties. 

 From 1905 it made great progress which culminated in 1913, when 

 the value of feathers exported was nearly 3 million pounds sterling. 

 Then came another slump and the war, and for five years the industry 

 sank, until in 1918 the export of feathers was lower than it was thirty 

 years ago. However, the year just passed brought a revival in the 

 trade, as will be seen from the statistics hereunder, the auctions of 

 ostrich feathers being resumed in London before a large number of 

 English and French buyers, Italy also being represented. 



The following statement of the quantity and value of ostrich 

 feathers exported from South Africa indicates the progress or other- 

 wise of the industry. The average price per lb. for feathers in 1913, 

 when the industry was at its zenith, was, it will be noted, only 

 about half what it was in 1880, when the market was also booming : — 



Oversea Trade in Ostrich Feathers. 



Quantity i^ i i i. a r> • 



T-, ^ 1 valued at Aveiase Price 



Exported. 



lb. £ per lb. 



1870 28,786 91,229 £3 3 



1875 40,569 304,933 6 3 



1880 163,065 883,632 5 8 



1885 251,984 585,279 2 6 



1890 212,276 517,009 2 8 



1895 353,626 ' 527,742 1 10 



1900 412,832 879,751 2 2 



1905 471,024 1,081,187 2 5 



1910 741,078 2,272,846 3 14 



1911 826,992 2,253,140 2 14 6 



1912 999,704 2,609,638 2 12 2 



1913 1,023,307 2,953,587 2 17 9 



1914 755,325 1,342,717 1 15 6 



1915 948,945 743,772 15 8 



1916 452,080 486,362 116 



1917 219,048 175,019 15 11 



1918 108,924 88,628 16 3 



1919 904,611 1,646,014 1 16 4 



The exports for the first three months of 1920 average £2. 5s. lOd. 

 per lb. 



