TEMPERATE SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS 99 



country might not help to increase the exports of foodstuffs. 1 On 

 the other hand, exports of coal are likely to precede and accompany 

 the growth of manufactures, and the latter would tend to supply 

 the home market with cheap supplies of the much-needed labour- 

 saving agricultural machinery. 



With reference to the Chinese exports of animal foodstuffs, the 

 following figures 2 show the position, and the progress made, in 

 the years preceding the outbreak of the European War. 



It is significant that, except for meat and game, which is a new 

 feature in export trade, the only item that shows a marked tendency 

 to increase is eggs and egg yolks. Chinese exports of the above- 

 classified animal foodstuffs have been noted for their low price, 

 which is due primarily to low-grade quality, arising from the 

 unscientific methods of animal and poultry-rearing, but also to 

 the absence of government regulations and inspection, 3 and the 

 peculiarly low internal currency values. Eggs are apparently very 

 imperfectly graded, 4 pigs are kept under insanitary conditions, and 

 cattle are undersized and lack condition. It is probable also that 

 any considerable withdrawal of egg supplies for export will have 

 the effect of raising the price above the present level. 5 The lard 

 exported from Southern China is more or less a by-product from the 

 brisk local demand for pork. 6 It seems certain that any improve- 

 ments in the quality of pigs and cattle products in accordance with 

 the requirements of European and North American markets, would 

 involve an increase in the cost of production. It does not appear 

 either that there is any great immediate probability of improve- 



1 Chisholm, Commercial Geography, 7th Edition, pp. 406, 407. " This 

 (manufacturing) population will be dependent upon supplies of foodstuffs 

 brought from elsewhere, possibly from a distance, and it is extremely doubtful 

 whether China herself will be able to meet this demand. 



2 Taken from the China Year Book, 1912. The values have been converted 

 from Haekwan Taels at the rate of 6' 15 to the / for 1907, and of 7'44 to the 

 in 1911. 



8 See U.S. Daily Commerce Reports, Jan. 23rd, 1911, p. 283, which notes 

 the slackness of the Chinese Authorities in complying with cattle quarantine 

 regulations in export trade to the Phillipines. 



4 U.S. Daily Commerce Reports, May 10th, 1913, p. 732. 



6 U.S. Daily Commerce Reports, May 10th, 1913, p. 733. 



U.S. Daily Commerce Reports, July 10th, 1915, p. 168. 



