T} U !*'i .iCI TRE 15 



pared with 48,50, 000 a L . . e id . ti The figures in 



respect of cattle indicate that steaa y rogress is being made 

 in replenishing the herds of the United States, which had suf- 

 fered a steady and serious decline for several years prior to 

 the war. 



" Exports of refrigerated meat showed further expansion 

 during the year, and amounted in aggregate to 95,430 tons, of 

 which 56,000 tons were shipped to the United Kingdom, 22,350 

 tons to the Continent, and 17,080 tons railed to Canada (pre- 

 sumably for shipment to Europe) as compared with 80,940 

 tons in 1916, of which 41,820 tons came to the United Kingdom, 

 and 39,120 tons went to the Continent. So recently as in 1913 

 the total export was only 437 tons. 



" In view of the comparative proximity of the United States 

 to this country, and its active participation in the war, an in- 

 creased export of meat may be expected from that quarter 

 during the coming year. 



Prospects 



" The opinion is held almost universally that after the war 

 there will be a scramble amongst all the big consuming coun- 

 tries of the world and some of the smaller nations which have 

 not previously been importers of meat, for a share in the world's 

 exportable surplus. High prices are anticipated as a conse- 

 quence of the keen competition to be looked for under such 

 circumstances ; and fears are freely expressed that the avail- 

 able supplies mil fall far short of the requirements of a Conti- 

 nent which for some years has been reduced to very modest 

 rations under the stress of war. 



" The outlook for supplies is, however, more than hopeful ; 

 plenty is almost assured. The producing countries of the world 

 in Australasia, South America, North America and also South 

 Africa- are being favoured with good seasons as a rule, they are 

 all well supplied with refrigerating plant, and stock is nowhere 

 scarce. The only problem remaining to be solved is transport, 

 and even that is not by any means unsatisfactory. The ton- 

 nage of refrigerated steamers now in existence under the British 

 flag is as large as at the outbreak of war ; and new shipping 

 lines have been started in France and Italy which bring the 



