178 THE WOBLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



IVIADAGASCAR. 



The French Island of Madagascar lies off the coast of Bast 

 Africa, and runs 1000 miles north and south, with a breadth up 

 to 360 miles. It is 226,000 square miles in extent, and is 

 mostly mountainous country, from 3000 to 5000 feet high, with 

 healthy, well-grassed undulating valleys and low hills. 

 Madagascar has large herds of cattle, and is an ideal country for 

 cattle raising. The herds number fully seven millions at present, 

 and beef is already being exported. In a few years, France 

 could, by the importation of stud bulls, enormously increase 

 not only the numbers, but the weight of the present stock, and, 

 without trouble, fill the gaps in theii" own meat supply by beef 

 from this beautiful island of theirs. Any visitors to Madagascar 

 must be impressed with the richness of the grasses, not only in 

 the numerous valleys, but on the hills. Burnt year after year 

 by big fires, it springs up again with a profusion much more 

 than sufficient for the present stock running on it. 



In fact, the pasture land of Madagascar is almost unrivalled 

 in any part of the world. A committee which was appointed 

 recently by the French Government to investigate in what 

 manner the native cattle would be able to contribute towards 

 the meat supplies of France, has sent in its report. The 

 following conclusions were arrived at: — 



"(1) The introduction of live stock from Madagascar into 

 France can be realised very soon, and all that is needed is trans- 

 portation facilities; (2) if the cold store works actually existing 

 in Madagascar can increase their capacity, the exportation of 

 live stock will be followed by that of frozen meat; (3) owing 

 to the difficulty of obtaining from the shipowners or navigation 

 companies the boats needed for the transportation of live stock 

 intended for exportation, the committee thinks that as the State 

 is the sole purchaser of this live stock, it ought to have entire 

 charge of its transportation ; (4) it would be in the Govern- 

 ment's interest to employ competent persons in the shipping 

 and landing centres to inspect the shipping operation and 

 purchasing of tlie cattle ; (5) it would be advisable to leave plenty 

 of room for private enterprise." 



The export of canned, frozen, and salted meats is even now 

 an important industry in the island, some thousands of tons 

 being shipped annually. 



The large establishments at Majunga (belonging to Messrs. 

 Vestey Bros.), Diego-Suarez, and Tamatave are busy turning out 

 meat for the French Army. 



