Siberian Butter Industry. 



ioi 



butter now reaches the London market direct, and not under 

 Danish marks or via Denmark only. The butter is brought to 

 the nearest railway transit points either by cart or river, and is 

 packed for export in beech casks of foreign make. The Govern- 

 ment is doing all in its power to facilitate carriage arrangements 

 to the Baltic ports, and to multiply cold storage conveniences 

 en route. 



Prices are usually settled by arrangement for the whole year, 

 or for at least nine months, between the export offices and the 

 peasant producers (whether associations, societies, &c), who 

 meet in January at Kourgan for this purpose. Outside pur- 

 chases are settled according to current market prices, during the 

 first nine months by London, Copenhagen, and other foreign 

 quotations, and from October to December by those of St. 

 Petersburg and Moscow. Prices at the nearest market range 

 from 19s. to 22s. per 36 lb. in the Government of Tobolsk ; and 

 from 20s. to 24s. in that of Tomsk. 



Mr. Cooke remarks that the progress made in this new 

 industry may have its negative side, as complaints are constantly 

 being made that the peasantry, in their eagerness to dispose of 

 all their available supplies of milk to the export offices, are 

 unduly sacrificing the regular nourishment of their children. It 

 is, however, rejoined that the increased earnings should so react 

 on their general welfare as to enable them to provide for their 

 own families as well. 



The following table shows how rapidly this industry has 

 advanced during the last few years :- — 



Year. 



Number of 

 Establishments. 



Production for Export. 



Pouds. 



Lb. 



1898 

 1899 

 1900 

 1901 

 1902 



334 

 1,107 

 1,800 

 2,500 



300,000 

 1,100,000 

 1,860,000 

 2,500,000* 



150,000 



5,416,800 

 10.833,600 

 391723,200 

 67,168,320 

 90,280,000 



Estimated . 



The Report explains that the number of establishments in 

 1902 was only 2,000 according to unofficial sources, but the 



