Imports of Agricultural Produce. 



495 



There is a rise in the receipts from Holland and New Zealand, 

 and a reduction of 29,563 cwt. in those from the United States. 

 The rise in the average declared value of imported cheese still 

 continues, the figure for 1903 being 52s. 4d. per cwt., as against 

 50s. 4d. in 1902 and 48s. 2d. in 1901. 



The quantity of imported fresh milk and cream remains 

 practically stationary, though there is an increase in value due 

 to the larger proportion of cream. Owing to an alteration in the 

 Customs returns it is not possible to compare the imports of 

 milk with previous years, but the total amount received is quite 

 insignificant. 



The import of eggs continues to increase, the excess over 

 1902 being 882,102 great hundreds. Russia is still by far the 

 largest exporter to us, the receipts from that country being 

 1,463,728 great hundreds more than in 1902. Just one-third of 

 our total import of foreign eggs came from Russia last year, as 

 compared with 25 per cent, in 1901. The other chief sources of 

 supply are Denmark, Germany, Belgium, and France, in that 

 order. It appears that the Russian eggs are mainly of an 

 inferior quality, for, while the average declared value of the 

 total importation was 6s. 8d. per great hundred, the average 

 value of Russian eggs was 5s. 6d., of Danish eggs 8s. yd., and 

 of French eggs 8s. 4d. per great hundred. 



The next table shows the imports of horses, poultry, wool, 

 and other miscellaneous animal products : — 



Table III. 



Imports of Horses, Poultry, and Miscellaneous Animal Products. 



Description. 



Quantities. 



Value. 



1902. 



1903. 



1902. 



1903. 



Horses ... ... No. 



Poultry and Game £ 

 Lard ... ... ewt. 



Tallow and Stearine ,, 

 Wool, Sheep, Lambs lb. 

 Sheepskins, undressed No. 

 Hides* ... ... cwt. 



32,686 



1,650,830 

 1,782,098 



637,129,733 

 16,301,695 

 661,198 



27,266 



1,732,715 

 1,395**74 

 599,5 0 9,732 

 17,084,812 

 493,78i 



£ 



835,769 

 1,059,044 

 4,1 18,992 

 2,708,717 

 19,924,255 

 1,61 1, 06b 



i,595> io 9 



r 



631,269 

 1,203,086 

 3. 870,849 

 1,987,885 

 20,622,523 

 ^736,805 

 1,230,743 



*" Does not include dry hides. 



