SOME EFFECTS OF THE WAR :U7 



the ill-effects of the war have prospered extraordinarily, and have 

 developed their systems of agriculture and animal husbandry, or 

 are in a position to do so ; and in the belligerent countries of 

 Europe the war conditions have forced experiments to be made in 

 new methods of economising agricultural resources, of utilising by- 

 products, and of increasing production which will bear fruit in the 

 future. When the war is over, the energies released from the work 

 of destruction may be devoted more especially to that of agri- 

 cultural production, where there is still, apparently, great scope 

 for the application of science and of technical improvements. 



The quantities of sea fish that will be available for consumption 

 in European countries after the war can probably be increased 

 much above the pre-war level. Not only were the quantities of 

 fish landed in Europe increasing in the years preceding the war, 

 but during the war sea fisheries have, on the whole, been subject 

 to comparatively small drains. At the close of the war the catches 

 may for a time be much greater than in the past. It is possible, 

 therefore, that any shortage in meat supplies may be relieved to 

 some extent by increased fish supplies, provided consumers are 

 willing to make the necessary substitution. At the same time, it 

 is almost certain that, on the pre-war basis of consumption, there 

 will be a distinct shortage of animal foodstuffs in Western Europe 

 after the conclusion of peace, though there is no reason for sup- 

 posing that this will be a permanent condition. 



It remains to be added that the distribution of the exports of 

 animal foodstuffs from the surplus-producing countries may be 

 modified owing partly to the war. Before the outbreak of the 

 war there were frequent agitations in various European countries 

 for the removal of tariffs on imported animal foodstuffs, especially 

 meat, which were successful only to a very limited extent. 1 The 

 shortages caused by war conditions have made importations 

 of meat into both France and Italy necessary ; and there is little 

 doubt that Germany and Austria also, in view of their deficiencies, 

 will import animal foodstuffs from abroad as soon as they are able. 

 To allow of the entry of these foodstuffs, the continental countries 

 in question will have to modify their pre-war tariff rates, and once 

 the change to more or less free importation is made, it may not be 

 an easy matter afterwards to revert to the old protective system. 

 It will be argued, perhaps, in these countries, that producers are 

 sufficiently protected by the higher prices without the aid of a tariff, 

 and that there is no longer any danger of the local market being 

 inundated by large and cheap foreign supplies. Under these con- 

 ditions there would be a stronger competition than previously 

 existed among deficiency countries for a share of the surplus from 

 the exporting regions, and Great Britain would be no longer prac- 

 tically the only market for animal foodstuffs. 2 



1 See Report of British Consul at Buenos Aires, Dec., 1912, p. 26. also 

 Weddel & Co.'s Reports on Frozen Meat Trade, 1901 (p. 17) ; 1905 (p. 6) ; 

 1906 (p. 13) ; 1908 (p. 5). 



a For a fuller discussion of this matter see Part III., Chaps, ii. and iv, 



