664 ;Live Stock at the Brussels Exhibition, [nov., 



It was realised at the outset that a very valuable advertise- 

 ment would be secured by sending over a number of specimen 

 animals to be shown in the vicinity of the Exhibition. A 

 Belgian butcher's agent arranged to purchase a number of 

 various breeds of sheep, which he agreed to exhibit on his 

 premises for a period before they were slaughtered. Unfor- 

 tunately there was some little delay in collecting and arranging 

 for the shipment of the animals, and when arrangements were 

 at last completed the agent refused to accept them. Every 

 endeavour was being made to secure another purchaser 

 willing to exhibit before slaughter, when the outbreak of foot 

 and mouth disease in this country made it impossible to 

 secure the necessary authority for the importation of live 

 animals from the Belgian Department of Agriculture. 



It may be claimed that as a pictorial advertisement the 

 Brussels exhibit has fully justified the expense and trouble 

 that its preparation incurred. The Committee now wish 

 strongly to urge the necessity of individual breeders of this 

 country to follow up the interest that has been created thereby, 

 Unfortunately the lengthy lists of names and addresses of 

 persons who made inquiries at Brussels were destroyed in the 

 great fire. There are means, however, other than by direct 

 communication, by which these persons may be reached, for 

 instance, by advertising in the Continental papers, and it is 

 hoped that the opportunity will not be lost by the breeders 

 of this country. 



The necessity for the appointment of an official Continental 

 .and foreign selling agent or agents has been abundantly de- 

 monstrated at Brussels. The foreign buyer apparently objects 

 to dealing direct with the breeder, at any rate in the pre- 

 liminary stages. He would much prefer to get into com- 

 munication with a thoroughly reliable official selling agent, 

 who would give him, in his own language, the particulars 

 he requires as to choice of animals, prices, freight charges, 

 transport facilities, import and export regulations, &c. The 

 appointment of such a man would, without doubt, facilitate 

 to a great extent the live stock trade, and it is a matter which 

 should receive the careful consideration of the Breed Societies 

 .of this country. 



