8 3 6 



Agricultural Imports in 191 i. 



[JAN., 



class of meat), which increased to the above figure from 

 2,710,747 cwt. in the preceding year, whereas the frozen 

 beef imports have remained fairly steady for several years. 

 Another point in connection with the chilled beef trade 

 which is worthy of mention is the continuous decline in 

 the supplies from the United States. In 191 1 the very small 

 amount of 169,000 cwt. was received from this source. The 

 imports of frozen beef from Australia, New Zealand, and 

 Uruguay also showed large decreases. The chilled beef from 

 all sources averaged 32s. per cwt., while the frozen beef 

 was several shillings lower, viz., 28s. per cwt. 



The weight of beef represented by the imports of cattle 

 may be estimated at 1,308,000 cwt., which, added to the 

 imports of fresh and refrigerated beef, make the total receipts 

 of meat of this class from abroad in 191 1, 8,670,000 cwt., 

 or nearly 21 J lb. per head of the population. In 1910 the 

 figures were 8,432,000 cwt., representing 2o| lb. per head; 

 in 1909 8,217,000 cwt., or 20^ lb. per head; in 1908, 

 8,115,000 cwt., or 2of lb. per head; in 1907, 8,806,000 cwt., 

 or 22^ lb. per head; and in 1906 9,170,000 cwt., which was 

 equal to 23J lb. per head. 



Sheep and Mutton. — The number of live sheep imported 

 rose from 427 in 1910 to 47,673 in 191 1, these figures being 

 also larger than the imports in 1909. The quantity of mutton 

 imported on the other hand showed a decrease from 

 5,406,000 cwt. in 1910 to 5,337,000 cwt. in 191 1. Nearly all 

 of it comes in the form of frozen mutton, chiefly from New- 

 Zealand (1,981,467 cwt.), Australia (1,291,696 cwt.), and 

 Argentina (1,782,066 cwt.). The quantity received from 

 Australia and New Zealand was less than in the preceding 

 year, but the receipts from Argentina showed an increase of 

 some 400,000 cwt. 



The weight of meat represented by the sheep received alive 

 may be estimated at 25,800 cwt., which added to the imports 

 of fresh and refrigerated mutton make the total receipts 

 5*363,000 cwt., this being equal to 13^ lb. per head of the 

 population. In the three previous years the total receipts, 

 alive and dead, were 5,406,000 cwt., 4,766,000 cwt., and 

 4,434,000 cwt. respectively, or about 13J lb., 12 lb., and 11 lb. 

 per head of the population. 



