FRANCE. 281 



In presence of such a state of things, my opinion is that the im- 

 portation of live stock from the United States would prove a paying 

 speculation, as it would meet the most urgent wants of a populatkm of 

 221,000 inhabitants, consuming. yearly 22,000 oxen. If the monopoly 

 was destroyed, and if meat became more abundant and cheaper, this 

 amount would increase 50 per cent. 



COST OF INTRODUCING, STABLING, AND FEEDING CATTLE IN BOR- 

 DEAUX. 



The cost of introduction, stabling, keeping, &c., of the imported ani- 

 mals from the day of their arrival to that of their sale to the butcher, 

 is as follows : 



Customs dues, per head, $2.89, if imported direct. Town dues, 4SJ 

 cents per 100 pounds' weight. All animals intended to be slaughtered 

 must be sent to the official pens, where it costs for oxen 29 cents per 

 head, and for cows 19 cents per head for the first twenty-four hours, 

 food, litter, and attendance not included. If the owner or purchaser 

 does not provide food, litter, and attendance, these are given ex officio 

 by the establishment at the following rates : Nine pounds of hay (half 

 a day's ration), 10 cents ; litter, 2 cents ; attendance and water, 4 cents. 

 If the animals remain more than twenty-four hours in the pens the 

 charges for each succeeding day arc the following : Stabling, oxen or 

 cows, 4 cents per head ; food (eighteen pounds of hay, litter, and at- 

 tendance), 27 cents. When sold^ it costs 77 cents per head for slaughter- 

 house dues. This latter charge is at the expense of the butcher or 

 purchaser. 



If, instead of livestock, the importations consisted of fresh meat pre- 

 served in ice the expenses would be as follows : 



Per 100 

 pounds. 



Customs dues SO 29 



Town dues , 96 



Total 1 25 



CATTLE CENSUS OF THE BORDEAUX CONSULAR DISTRICT. 



The total number of cattle in this consular district amounts to G5G,000 

 head, viz: 



Oxen and bulls .. 157,500 



Cows , 330,900 



Calves 167,000 



With the following proportion of tlie different breeds : 



Garonnais 190,000 



Bazadais 32,000 



Bordelais 6,000 



Limousin 149,100 



Pyrcneanof various breeds 238,900 



Landais 40,000 



Total 656,000 



GEO. W. EOOSEVELT, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Bordeaux, , 1883. 



