276 ON POISONOUS FISHES AND FISH-POTSONS. 



As the Board of Trade returns furnish no separate account of the imports 

 of hippopotamus teeth, I cannot give any statistical table of the extent of 

 our trade in this article, hut should roughly estimate the quantity imported, 

 at from 7 to 10 tons annually ; which, considering the limited source of 

 supply, is far from being small. The importation of these teeth into Liver- 

 pool in the year 1850, was 2J tons; and as by far the larger quantity 

 received enters the port of London, I think my estimate of the total is not 

 overdrawn. The value of hippopotamus teeth depends both upon size and 

 quality — those being the most esteemed, that are large, and free from flaws. 

 In years that are past, as much as 30s. per lb. has been paid for fine tusks ; 

 but the price may now be said to range from Is. per lb. to 17s. or 18s. per lb. 

 At a recent sale, some very small teeth realised only 7^d. per lb. ; but the 

 following table, compiled from a sale at the end of last year, will perhaps 

 convey to the reader a better idea of the comparative value of these 



tusks. 



Teeth averaging each 61b. realised 17s. per lb. 



» 



«* 



11 



13s. 



H 



11 



8s. 9d. 



5 



11 



lis. 



<Mr 



11 



lis. 6d. 



4k 



11 



14s. 3d. 



4 



11 



10s. 



3| 



11 



8s. 6d. 



n 



11 



6s. 6d. 



3 



11 



3s. 7d. 



2f 



11 



4s. 9d. 



2 



11 



2s. 2d. 



2 



11 



Is. 



1* 



11 



Is. Id. 



H 



11 



2s. 4d. 



Allowing 20 lb. on an average, for every set of hippopotamus teeth 

 imported, and presuming our total imports are 10 tons, no less a number 

 than eleven hundred of these giant creatures must be slaughtered, every 

 year, to supply our markets. 



At the present time, the demand for hippopotamus teeth is small, and 

 no scarcity is felt ; but as civilisation advances in West and South Africa, 

 and the animals become gradually exterminated, it is probable that the time 

 may come when this comparatively insignificant, though useful and valuable 

 artiele of commerce, will be sought after in vain. 



