REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 241 



aggregate value of the exports of the last-named year exceeded that of 

 any former year. 



To meet the increased foreign demand, there has been an enlargement 

 of production both in the visible amount gathered by statisticians and 

 the invisible amounts made for home consumption. The aggregate net 

 weight of hogs packed in the West, including summer and winter pack- 

 ing seasons, was 230,983,541 jiounds greater in the packing year last 

 closed than in its predecessor ; the amount of lard was 33,320,001 pounds 

 greater. If the same accurate statistics could be gathered of the pork- 

 packing operations of the Atlantic and Pacific slopes, and of Canada, 

 this surplus would be still further increased. 



It is well known that vast improvements have been made both in the 

 breeds raised and in the methods of breeding, raising, and fattening 

 animals for market. Many farmers in all parts of the West and some 

 in the South have found it more profitable to grow the new breeds, 

 which will in twelve months, if intelligently managed, produce as much 

 pork as the old breeds do in twenty months. The economic value of 

 time in production is thus better appreciated, and its results are mani- 

 festing themselves in increased production and in better margins of 

 profit. 



The immense enlargement of exportation of swine products, without 

 any adequate evidence of equivalent decrease in the rate of home con- 

 sumption, has only been accomplished by increase of average weight, 

 or large increase of numbers in proportion to population. It is easily 

 proved that weight has increased, especially of hogs of equal age; and 

 statistics do not show increase of numbers. One fact should be con- 

 sidered relative to enumerations of swine. Millions advance from pigs 

 to pork between one enumeration and another, making decrease of num- 

 bers more apparent than real in comparison with former years. 



Notwithstanding the average age of killing is much reduced, the 

 average weight is increased. Mr. Charles Cist, in 1851, made the aver 

 age weight of hogs killed in Cincinnati 200 pounds ; it was about 220 

 for the past three years, an increase of 10 per cent. He made the num- 

 bers for ten years, between 1848 and 1858, slaughtered in that great 

 swine mart 385,000. For five years past the average packed has been 

 570,949. This is an increase of 48 per cent., and new packing-points 

 have sprung up, not only throughout the West, but in several towns in 

 Ohio. 



16 A 



