CHAPTER XLI 
THE POULTRY INDUSTRY IN 1916 
By Edward Brown, F.L.S. 
N indication of the importance of the poultry industry 
A is afforded by the consumption values of eggs and poultry. 
These, in spite of reduced imports, were greater in 1916 
than ever before, owing to enhancement of prices. Below is an 
estimate of wholesale values of these two products in 1918 (the 
last complete year prior to the war) and 1916 respectively. The 
actual cost to consumers would be at least 20 per cent. higher, 
bringing last year’s values up to a total of more than £33,000,000 
sterling, or with imported liquid eggs to £85,000,000. 
CONSUMPTION VALUES OF EGGS AND POULTRY 
1918 1916 Variations 
& & & 
British ‘ 3 ; 9,000,000 14,400,000 5,400,000 increase 
Irish és 3 s 5,000,000 8,000,000 3,000,000 increase 
Imported . ‘ 2 10,545,000 5,377,000 5,168,000 decrease 
Totals . £24,545,000 £27,777,000 £3,232,000 increase 
The average declared values are shown later. 
During the first year of the war the trend upwards of values 
was important. Although there was a great reduction of imports, 
it was accompanied by a lessened consumption, and as the cost 
of feeding stuffs did not advance to the degree expected, prices 
were not unduly high. Within the last eighteen months a great 
change has taken place. High quality eggs and chickens have 
attained rates which either mean that many households entirely 
abstain from their use, or restrict consumption almost to the 
vanishing-point. Further, prices would have gone still higher 
but for the fact that householders, with few exceptions, would not 
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