1909.] Imports of Agricultural Produce in 1908. 743 



character of this change in the trade may be judged from 

 the fact that the value of imported cattle in the past year 

 was only ,£6,549,000 as against £9,732,000 in 1906. 



The decrease in the imports of cattle from the United States 

 was accompanied by a marked falling off in the receipts of 

 fresh beef from the same country, so that the supplies of the 

 better qualities of imported beef, viz., port-killed and chilled 

 American, were decidedly small. To some extent this was 

 compensated for by a great extension in the shipments from 

 Argentina, which now in point of quantity holds the premier 

 position in the beef trade. During the past year Argentina 

 sent no less than 3,590,000 cwt. as against 2,692,000 cwt. in 

 1907, while the contribution of the United States was only 

 1,432,000 cwt. as against 2,417,000 cwt. in the previous 

 year. The difference in quality may be judged by the fact 

 that the average value of the River Plate beef was 345. per 

 cwt., while that sent from the United States is returned at 

 455. 8d. per cwt. These figures were two to three shillings 

 higher than those of the previous year. 



The imports of fresh beef amounted in all to 5,632,000 cwt., 

 while the weight of beef represented by the imports of cattle 

 may be estimated at 2,483,000 cwt., so that the total receipts 

 of meat of this class from abroad in 1908 were 8,115,000 cwt., 

 or about 2of lb. per head of the population. In 1907 the 

 figures were 8,806,000 cwt., representing 22J lb. per head, 

 and in 1906 9,170,000 cwt., equal to 23J- lb. per head. 



Sheep and Mutton. — The remarkable diminution in the 

 imports of live sheep, which has been noticeable in the past 

 three years, was more than maintained, and the total sank 

 to a lower figure than in any year since 1893. In 1904 the 

 number received was 382,000, almost entirely from the United 

 States and Canada, whereas in the past year it was only 

 78,900. A slight decline also occurred in the fresh mutton 

 trade, the receipts both from New Zealand and Australia 

 being less. 



The imports of fresh mutton amounted to 4,391,000 cwt., 

 while the weight of meat represented by the sheep received 

 alive may be estimated at 43,100 cwt., so that the total 

 receipts of fresh mutton from abroad in 1908 was 4,434,000 

 cwt., or about 11 lb. per head of the population. In the 



