THE PACIFIC ISLANDS—JAPAN 203 



in the Windward Group, is an ideal spot for cattle-raising, and 

 should be able easily to supply with beef all the ships calling 

 there, and at times have a surplus for export. The same sen- 

 sitive plant is to be found in luxuriance all over the island. 

 Again, the Sandwich Group, of which Honolulu is the main 

 port, has many cattle owners, and cattle do excellently there. 



New Caledonia is a country of great possibilities. As a 

 cattle-raising colony, this French possession has a great future. 

 There are already three meat preserving works there, two of 

 them being operated by Australian capital. 



JAPAN. 



The Japanese Department of Agriculture and Commerce is 

 spending 30,000 yen (about £3000) annually on the rearing of 

 sheep. This commenced in the financial year 1916-17. About 

 200 head of sheep have been purchased from England, and 

 others from Australia and New Zealand, and kept on the pas- 

 tures at Tsukisamushu, Hokkaido. 



Should these renewed experiments in sheep-raising in Japan 

 prove remunerative the authorities will take steps for the 

 encouragement of this branch of agriculture among farmers. 

 The Japanese authorities are apparently convinced that sheep- 

 raising in Japan will turn out successful, but it should be 

 remembered that much depends on the demand for mutton^ 

 ^vhich is not an accepted article of food in Japan. 



