THE UNITED KINGDOM. 225 



No oider like this has ever before been issued iii Ireland, and the effect 

 of the mandate upon small stock-breeders must prove almost ruinous. 

 Some idea of the disastrous effect of these restrictions upon the cattle 

 trade of the entire country may be gathered from the fact that it is in 

 this same province of Connaught that the largest and most important 

 cattle fair held in Ireland takes place. The fair referred to is that an- 

 nually held in Ballinasloe, and which is always attended by large num- 

 bers of stock-breeders from the other three provinces, viz, Munster, 

 Leinster, and Ulster, in search of young stock for fattening purposes. 

 The stopping of the source from which these young stock were obtained 

 cannot but have a very damaging effect on the entire cattle trade of the 

 country. 



THE CATTLE TRADE OF IRELAND. 



The cattle trade of Ireland is undoubtedly its greatest and most flour- 

 ishing industry, surpassing as it does by several millions of pounds ster- 

 ling annually the very important and prosperous linen trade of the 

 northern province (Ulster). For several years past Irish stock-breeders 

 have been receiving from England and Scotland in exchange for live 

 stock an annual average of $73,000,000. The returns for the year just 

 closed have not yet been made out, but it is anticipated that they will 

 prove the most depressing on record, and on a rough estimate the sum 

 realized it is not expected will exceed 8,000,000 or 10,000,000. In 

 the year 1882 there were exported from Ireland to Great Britain 291,777 

 fat cattle, 430,000 "stores" (lean cattle), and of other descriptions 3,000, 

 or a total of 724,777. During 1883 not more than half this number have 

 been exported, owing to the restrictions above referred to. For four 

 out of the twelve months the export of " store" cattle from Ireland to 

 England was prohibited altogether, and for seven months of the year 

 the restrictions of a general character were so great as to almost extin- 

 guish the cattle trade in some portions of the island. The precautions 

 adopted by the veterinary department, however, are having the desired 

 effect ; the spread of the disease has been checked, and its ravages 

 have now been u stamped out" of some districts. In proportion as these 

 good results are being realized the restrictions are being removed ; but, 

 though a considerable improvement has taken place, the cattle trade of 

 the country is still very much crippled, and it will take some time be- 

 fore it recovers the serious check which it has sustained. 



In connection with this part of the subject it will be of interest to 

 draw a comparison between the prices which cattle brought in 1872 and 

 1883 at Ballinasloe fair. In 1872 first-class oxen (mixed breeds) real- 

 ized 24 10s. ($119.22) per head. In 1875 the same class brought 25 

 10s. ($124.09) per head, while last year these quotations fell to 20 10s. 

 ($99.76), and as low as 13 ($63.26) per head for fourth-class animals. 

 In 1872 first-class heifers sold at 20 ($97.33), and last year they brought 

 22 ($107.06); the quotations for fourth-class animals being 14 ($68.13). 



CATTLE CENSUS OF IRELAND. 



The total number of cattle of all classes and breeds in Ireland in 1883 

 was 4,096,021, an increase of 108,810 over 1882. Of this number there 

 were in Leinster 1,066,502, increase 35,330 ; in Ulster 1,078,049, increase 

 24,221 ; in Connaught 623,997, increase 10,815 ; and in Munster 1,327,473, 

 increase 38,444. 



The table which I inclose will show the number and description of 

 cattle in each county of Muuster (in which province this consulate has 

 H. Ex. 51 15 



