l.vs THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



steamer. In some eases, owing to there not being sufficient 

 depth of water for the steamer to come alongside, the carcases 

 are transferred to barges, which are towed out to the steamer 

 lying about half a mile out. From 200 to 300 tons are loaded 

 per day. 



" The total number of carcases brought to England from 

 all these works is about 1,350,000. The steamers arrive at 

 rather long intervals, and are anxiously awaited by the works' 

 managers, especially as under present conditions the arrivals 

 are very uncertain. In some cases the stores are entirely filled, 

 and half the freezing rooms used as stores before the steamer 

 arrives. Another day or two of delay would bring the works 

 to an entire standstill, the consequence of which wo,uld be 

 disastrous, as it is impossible to stop the arrival of the sheep. 

 In a few days there would be 10,000 to 15,000 sheep around 

 the works with no adequate feed lor them, this having generally 

 disappeared before half the season is over. 



" In addition to the works mentioned there are also freezing 

 and canning works at St. Julian, which are owned by Swifts. 

 Xew works are on the point of completion at Rio Grande, in 

 the island of Tierra del Fuego, and works are projected, and 

 now y in course of construction at jNTatalis, near the Bories works, 

 and in opposition to these works. The Rio Seco works is the 

 only British company, the others being Chilian, except the 

 Gallegos and St. Julian works, which belong to Swifts. 



" It will thus be seen that it was a British firm that first had 

 the courage and energy to undertake the erection of freezing 

 works in that remote region. The difficulties met with in 

 carrying out this work were enormous, owing to want of 

 facilities. The success of the undertaking was immediately 

 followed by the forming of local companies for erecting the 

 other works, as already explained, but the country is greatly 

 indebted to this British firm for the prosperity that has followed 

 the initiation of this industry." 



