THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE' 9 



The Continent of Europe 



" Last year, frozen meat business on the Continent was 

 again of a special character, inasmuch as deliveries, practi- 

 cally without exception, were made under Government Con- 

 tracts for Army supplies. 



" France. — Arrivals of frozen meat were regularly main- 

 tained at French ports throughout the year, so that the aggre- 

 gate quantity imported was fully as important as during the 

 preceding year. Precise figures, however, are not available. 

 The whole import was utilised for feeding the Allied Armies, 

 with the exception of relatively insignificant quantities which 

 the Government at times allowed to be delivered to co-opera- 

 tive societies and municipal shops for civil consumption in 

 Paris. 



" Partly as a result of the steady importation of frozen 

 meat, there was no further depletion of the French herds. On 

 the contrary, these are believed to have recovered lost ground 

 during the past year, and in July last the Census Returns 

 accounted for 12,443,304 cattle, 10,586,594 sheep, and 4,200,280 

 pigs — totals which compare favourably with the figures for 

 1916. Supplies of home-grown meat for the civil population 

 were accordingly fairly plentiful, and there was no question 

 of any serious shortage such as has been experienced in the 

 United Kingdom. In fact, during the autumn, the Army 

 authorities availed themselves to a certain extent of the extra 

 supplies that were being marketed to create a temporary re- 

 serve of frozen meat, so far as the cold storage accommodation 

 would allow. Two meatless days per week were instituted 

 from March until September inclusive, after which period it 

 was found possible to discontinue this restriction. 



"Italy. — During 1917 the quantity imported was greater 

 than in any preceding year ; but the still increasing demand 

 exceeded the supply, and it may be assumed that Italian herds 

 of cattle decreased during the year, in spite of the fact that the 

 two meatless days per week, instituted in May, 1915, are still 

 enforced. 



" The fleet of Italian-owned refrigerated steamers is now of 

 some importance, and these vessels are proving of great utility 



