1905.] Importation of Canadian Cattle. 



423 



obstacle to the development and maintenance of a large and 

 valuable trade. In the case of Argentina, the number of cattle 

 imported into Great Britain steadily rose from 4,200 in 1891 to 

 85,000 in 1899, when the trade was interrupted by the intro- 

 duction of foot-and-mouth disease in that country. The value 

 of the imports in question was £68,000 in 1891 and £1,392,000 

 in 1899. During the whole of that period the requirement of 

 slaughter was in force. The case of the United States shows 

 similar results. The number of cattle imported in 1879 was 

 76,000, with a value of £1,782,000. In 1904 the number im- 

 ported was 401,000, with a value of £7,160,000. Slaughter at 

 the port of landing was required for the first time in 1879, and 

 has been enforced ever since. The Board are glad to observe 

 that similar results are indicated in the case of Canada. The 

 imports during the past two years have been as follows : — 





No. of Cattle Imported. 



Declared Value. 



1903 



1904 



190,812 

 146,598 



£ 



3,315.762 

 2,547,451 



The highest figure recorded prior to 1892, when slaughter at 

 the port of landing was first required, was in 1890. The 

 imports in that year were 120,469, with a declared value of 

 £1,892,298. 



The existing law does not cast any stigma or discredit upon 

 Canadian cattle, for it holds good not only in the case of the 

 United States and other foreign countries, but also in that of 

 every British Colony, including both Australia and New Zealand, 

 whence live cattle have in the past been imported into Great 

 Britain. It is in fact a sanitary law of universal application, of 

 great importance to stock-owners at home as a valuable safe- 

 guard against the introduction of disease, but not at all incon- 

 sistent with the transaction of a large and growing trade, as has 

 already been shown. 



The experience of Argentina in 1900, and more recently of 

 the United States in 1902, has shown how suddenly and un- 

 expectedly foot-and-mouth disease may make its appearance in 



