316 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
’ aggregates of the seaboard and interior cities for the last three years 
were as follows: 1876~77, 2,551,239; 1877-78, 2,703,676; 187879, 
3,222,011. 
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 
In California there was a considerable increase in the number of hogs 
packed. High prices of transportation of the live animals caused the 
packing at interior points of many that would otherwise have been sent 
to San Francisco. Yet the latter city reports an enlargement of the 
business. The hogs of the Pacific slope are smaller than eastward of the 
Rocky Mountains. The average gross weight per head of hogs packed 
in 1878 at San Francisco was 185 pounds against 165 pounds in 1877, 
and 185 pounds in 1876. There is no distinction between summer and 
winter season, operations being carried on during the whole year; hence, 
our reports represent calendar years instead of “ packing” years. 
The numbers packed during the last three years in California were as 
follows: 1876—San Francisco, 175,000; interior points, 55,000; total for 
the State, 230,600. 1877—San Francisco, 135,000; other points, 85,000 ; 
total, 220,000. 1878—San Francisco, 155,000; other points, 125,000; 
total, 280,000. The average cost of hogs per cental was $3.874 in 1878 
against $5.624 in 1877. The fall in prices has greatly discouraged this 
branch of production, which, it is supposed, will be considerably cur- 
tailed in 1879 for want of material. There is a growing export, espe- 
cially of barreled meats, from San Francisco to the Pacific Islands and 
Asia. Imports of pork products from the east greatly increased during 
1878, and are expected to still further increase during 1879. The high 
prices of transportation alone prevent a vast movement of this kind. 
While meats are shipped from Chicago to Liverpool at 45 cents per 
cental the same shipments to San Francisco are saddled with a freight 
tariff of $3 per cental. 
The total number cf hogs packed in Oregon in 1878 was 120,000 
against 90,000 in 1877 and 75,000 in 1876. Portland does most of the 
business. A small export to British Columbia is all that is sent out of 
the State. 
The total numbers packed on the Pacific slope during the last three 
years were as follows: 1876, 305,000; 1877, 510,000; 1878, 400,000. 
RECAPITULATION. 
The total number of hogs packed in the United States during the last 
three years is as follows: 
| | 
Section. | 1876-77. | 187778. | 1878~'79. 
TD) pa Re EN i MEA RNG L jie kao 7,409,174 | 9,048,566 | — 10, 858, 692 
TLITEU DEE 2 eS a a Rem Cn eRRN Ee ene e ey UPBr ET 2,551,239 | 2, 703, 670 3, 222, O11 
‘Phe Pacitic SlOpO)..4..-.ss0 secures sess aes secce=seeeeesese se 305, 000 310, 000 400, 000 
Deriaee ee oo Ue oe See doe Soca ae 10, 265, 413 | 12, 062,236 | 14, 480, 703 
Tt is believed that hog-producers also packed an increased number on 
private account during the last “‘ packing year.” A large surplus of the 
previous year remains to swell the production of 1878~79. To all ap- 
pearance, then, there is a vast enlargement of the oversupply. Whether 
new outlets will be opened for its disposal remains to be seen. Our 
foreign export of hog-products shows a vast increase. Reports from 
