Belgrade Pork and Bacon Curing Industry. 103 



2\ cwt. For two years the company carried on their business 

 at Nisch, while buildings were being erected for them at Belgrade 

 on land presented by the King. Finished in 1898, these build- 

 ings, situated on the banks of the Danube, in close proximity to 

 the town, and connected by a branch line with the railway 

 station, offer every facility for the import of live stock and the 

 export of their goods. Electric light is laid on all over the 

 buildings, with a plentiful supply of water. 



Until 1 90 1 the export trade was in fresh meat, poultry and 

 eggs, but in the same year a further step in advance was taken 

 by this association, who provided and leased to a Danish com- 

 pany a building for the salting and curing of pork and bacon. 

 Later on a building was leased to a French company on the 

 same lines, and the export of bacon, hams and pork became in a 

 short time not only the largest industry of Servia but one which 

 promised soon to have a very large trade connection with Europe 

 in general. 



Before going further it would be as well to explain the footing 

 on which these companies stand in regard to each other. The 

 company, which is prohibited by its statutes from trading 

 on its own account or from entering into any business of a 

 speculative character, is the mainspring of the whole concern. 

 It owns and leases out the various buildings, provides light and 

 water, maintains pens for the live stock, and keeps the records 

 of animals killed and the quantity and value of the exports ; it 

 purchases no animals on its own account, but slaughters and 

 prepares them for the branch companies, who are then free to- 

 carry on their own business in any way that seems best to them. 



The pens may be hired by anyone, and no obligation is 

 implied as to further dealings with the company, so that 

 peasants desirous of selling their stock may bring and keep them 

 here until they have enquired into the state of the different 

 markets and agreed upon what course of action may be most 

 profitable to themselves. They are kept in excellent order and 

 are provided with sheds and open yards, the larger capable of 

 holding 1 20 to 1 30 and the smaller 60 to 70 animals. The charges 

 are very moderate ; for one month the larger may be hired at 

 2s. 5d. a day and the smaller for is. z£d., while for longer periods 

 the prices are still more reduced. 



