Imports of Cereal Year. 



183 



27,817 head. The reduction in sheep was caused by a large 

 falling-off in the numbers sent from the United States, which 

 was not covered by an increase of 18,700 from Canada and the 

 receipt of 82,941 from Argentina. 



The imports of the following animal products decreased by 

 the quantities indicated in each case : Fresh beef, 214,000 cwt. ; 

 salt beef, 9,200 cwt.; preserved meat, unenumerated, 156,000 

 cwt.; salt pork, 13,000 cwt.; fresh pork, 78,000 cwt.; bacon, 

 434,000 cwt. ; and hams, 419,000 cwt. There was an increase 

 of 141,000 cwt. in the supply of fresh mutton, and of nearly 

 23,000 cwt. in salted or fresh meat unenumerated. The United 

 States provided as in former years the greater portion of the 

 imported fresh and salted beef, bacon and hams, but of each of 

 these articles the imports from this source were on a smaller 

 scale than in the previous years. Denmark furnished 1,417,000 

 cwt. of bacon, and Canada 533,000 cwt. Australasia sent 

 2,078,000 cwt. of fresh mutton, and Argentina 1,399,000 cwt., 

 these quantities being slightly larger in each case than those 

 furnished in 190 1-2. 



There was an increase of 88,000 cwt. in the supplies of 

 butter and of 27,000 cwt. in condensed milk, but decreases in 

 cheese (73,800 cwt.) and margarine ( 133,600 cwt.). Eggs in- 

 creased by 963,000 great hundreds, and poultry and game by 

 over ,£100,000 in value. Denmark, France, Holland, Russia, 

 and Canada were the principal contributors to the imports of 

 butter, the first-named country being credited with nearly 45 

 per cent, of the total supply. The increased importation of 

 eggs is due to larger consignments from Russia, whence we 

 received 6,652,000 great hundreds. 



There was an increase in the imports of fruit and hops. The 

 supply of apples was more than double that of the previous 

 year. Onions, potatoes, and tomatoes were also received in 

 much larger quantities than in 190 1-2. 



Of wool, hides, tallow, and stearine we received smaller con- 

 signments than in the previous year. 



