118 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



be under 8d. per dozen, and the minimum winter price not under 

 Is. 5d. per dozen. Table chickens bring 8d. per lb. dressed weight, 

 rising to Is. per lb. for crate fattened birds. Ducklings make about 

 the same rates, and there is always a good market for turkeys and 

 geese. In British Columbia prices are much higher, but this is 

 counteracted to some extent by the dearer price of poultry food. 

 In the Eastern Provinces grain is also somewhat high in price, but 

 with better distributing facilities from the great grain-growing 

 areas, prices will gradually be equalised. Cheap frosted wheat 

 is often available, and this can be used freely along with other 

 kinds of food. Although the past six or seven years have seen 

 an enormous increase in the poultry produce of the Dominion, 

 prices, in sympathy with the other markets of the world, are tending 

 upwards. 



From the last census returns of 1901 the total poultry population 

 of Canada is stated at 17,922,658. Competent authorities estimate 

 that the Province of Ontario alone now possesses 13,000,000 hens, 

 so that in 1908 the poultry population was probably twice what it was 

 in 1901. Yet, in spite of this doubled working plant, as it might 

 be called, the consuming capacity of the Dominion has been in- 

 creasing at a higher ratio. While at one time it was considered 

 impossible to consume all the produce raised, it has now become 

 the problem to supply the home market. In 1902, 11,635,108 

 dozens of eggs were exported valued at $1,733,242. This had fallen 

 in 1906 to 2,921,725 dozens valued at $495,176, and in 1908 to 

 1,365,890 dozens valued at $301,818. From 1902 to 1906 the 

 value of imported eggs had fallen from $169,457 to $88,937. 

 In 1908 the value of the imports of eggs was $214,994. The fall 

 in exports, especially to Britain, is due to the increased demands 

 of the home market. This strong local demand is an undoubted 

 incentive to greater effort on the part of the Canadian poultry 

 grower. The exports and imports of live birds have both notably 

 increased, due presumably to the freer interchange of breeding 

 stock between Canada and other countries. Very few large utility 

 or commercial poultry farms are to be found in Canada. The 

 tendency is rather to extend the industry on surer and better 

 lines through the farmers taking a more intelligent interest in the 

 fowls, and making them a regular paying part of the farm stock. 



The exhibition side of poultry-keeping is well advanced in 

 Canada. Fanciers are numerous, and as keenly active in intro- 

 ducing and improving new breeds as they are in the old country. 

 They play their part in fostering and educating public opinion. 

 They also distribute eggs and cockerels of pure breeds which go 

 to build up and improve the strains of other breeders. Conversa- 

 tion with many of these fanciers brought out that the demand for 

 pure eggs and cockerels of the useful varieties was increasing 

 enormously, indirectly proving the greater interest being manifested 

 in poultry-keeping. At most of the Agricultural Shows exhibitions 

 of poultry stock are encouraged by liberal classification and good 

 prizes. Table poultry and egg classes are almost invariably pro- 

 vided. 



