96 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



higher than 4,250,000 dozen. In 1897, fiscal year ending 

 June 30, only 579,681 dozen were imported. Our yearly 

 imports have dropped from $2,000,000 worth in 1889 to 

 only $47,760 in 1897. Meanwhile our exports have in- 

 creased from 372,772 dozen in 1887 to 1,300,183 dozen, 

 year ending June 30, 1897, — an increase in value in ex- 

 ports from $60,686 in 1887 to $180,954 in 1897, or nearly 

 three-fold. 



Although there has been a very rapid development of the 

 poultry industry during the past few years, it has not been 

 overdone. This country can yet handle all the poultry prod- 

 ucts. There is a large increase in the number of eggs con- 

 sumed per head of population every year, and this, and the 

 market value of the product, would be much greater if they 

 were properly collected and distributed and delivered to con- 

 sumers without such great delay. There is an enormous loss 

 on the egg crop of this great country between its production 

 and consumption, and most of it is unnecessary. 



Besides our home market, there is a foreign market for 

 eggs. England and Germany are the best egg markets of 

 the world. They do not produce 60 per cent of the eggs 

 they consume. During 1895 the United Kingdom imported 

 daily an average of 4,000,000 dozen eggs (209 tons), or paid 

 out nearly $50,000 every day for foreign eggs. During 1896 

 she imported $20,000,000 worth of eggs. Germany in 1895 

 imported over $17,000,000 worth, and in 1896 paid nearly 

 $19,000,000 for foreign eggs, — an increase in value of 

 $1,100,000. She also paid that year $4,000,000 for im- 

 ported poultry. Russia wins the lion's share of the egg 

 trade of both these countries, although many shipments 

 reach England by way of Germany. Other European coun- 

 tries secure some of it. Canada not only produces her own 

 poultry and eggs, but ships quantities to England. As yet 

 this country is out in the cold. Lately she has sent about 

 one-seventh as many as Canada. The United States sends 

 her wheat and corn to Europe, sells in competition with 

 Russia, India and South America, and leaves the bulk of the 

 foreign egg trade to other countries. It costs less to ship 

 poultry and eggs than grain, and these products take less 

 from the land. 



