PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 577 
Such irregularities show the figures to be utterly unreliable. It 
is therefore necessary to take the estimated numbers as they 
stand at the present time, and to find what the possible rate of 
increase would be after deducting the numbers required to feed 
the population, for which Mr. Coghlan’s estimate may be 
accepted, viz., 2 sheep and -26—or rather more than a fourth 
part—of a head of cattle to each person per annum. 
I am informed by competent authories that upon the existing 
numbers of sheep and cattle of both sexes and all ages there may 
be expected to be an annual increase of 30 per cent., by the 
birth of lambs and calves. The average number likely to die 
annually by drought and disease is more difficult to estimate— 
Mr. Coghlan sets it down at 5 per cent; but from numerous 
inquiries I have made, I am led to believe that, taking one year 
with another, the allowance should not be less than 10 per cent. 
There being thus a 30 per cent. increase by births and a 10 per 
cent. decrease by natural deaths, there remains a net increase of 
20 per cent., and the question to be solved is—Will this increase 
upon the present numbers of our stock admit of 2 sheep and -26 
of a head of cattle being provided annually for the food of our 
population, which population may be expected to increase at the 
rate of 3 per cent. each year ? 
This is a matter of easy. calculation. If, after all deductions 
are made, the stock is able to increase at a faster rate than the 
population, there is evidently no danger of the supply falling 
short ; but if the population is increasing the faster of the two, it 
must be only a question of time when the supply will be over- 
taken. Such a calculation, together with the data on which it is 
based, will be found in the following table, which relates to the 
four years ending with 1892 :— 
PopuLaTION, SHEEP, AND CATTLE IN AUSTRALIA, 1889 To 1892. 
(000’s omITTED). 
| Increase by Births each 
| Population | Zeer (G0 per cent), us 
: ee eaths by Disease an 
E ars | At Beginning of each Year. Teo aene t10 ate ey 
Care (inereasing | Net Increase—say 20 per 
3 per cent. cent. 
Ren a0 00) 5 | ee 
Sheep. Cattle. Sheep. | Cattle. 
1889 2,983 80,028 8,172 16,006 | 1,634 
{ 
1890 3,072 | 90,068 9,030 18,014 | 1,806 
1891 3,165 | 101,988 10,037 20,375 2,006 
| 
1892 | 3,260 | 115,983 11,220 23,160 2,240 
| | 
eK 
