Sept. 1894.] 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



69 



The Frozen Mutton Trade of New South Wales. 



In the Annual Report of the Stock and Brands Branch of the 

 Department of Mines and Agriculture of New South Wales, 

 Mr. Wood, the Under Secretary of the Department, publishes a 

 short review of the condition of the frozen mutton trade. 



The number of sheep in the Colony at the end of 1893 showed a 

 decrease of 1,099,426, due to the numbers boiled down, and ex- 

 ported, and to bad seasons in some districts. The Under Secretary 

 states that it is satisfactory to find that the question of export- 

 ing frozen mutton is beginning to attract the attention due to 

 so important a subject, and if the project which has been started 

 to form a "Graziers' Meat . Export Company " should result in 

 success, it may fairly be hoped that a large increase upon the 

 present export of frozen mutton will follow. There is, it appears, 

 ample room for considerable expansion, as the acting chief 

 inspector estimates the cast of fat sheep for the ensuing 

 season at 5,708,466, whereas, so far as could be ascer- 

 tained, the export of frozen meat last year was only 486,709 

 sheep, 47,241 haunches of mutton, and 4,670 quarters of beef. 

 Of course, a quantity of tinned meat was exported, but the 

 whole of the meat exports is said to bear no comparison to what 

 it should be, considering the immense capabilities of the Colony 

 and the practically unlimited market in Great Britain and the 

 Continent. Representatives of some of the large firms in Eng- 

 land, who have recently visited the colonies with the object of 

 taking stock of their resources, have assured the Department 

 of Mines and Agriculture that in various parts of Great Britain 

 there are immense markets which have not yet been tapped. 

 It is also observed that the opening of the Manchester Ship 

 Canal will bring within reach an immense population of well- 

 paid artisans, who may be reasonably expected to become large 

 consumers of Australian mutton. 



The success which has attended the introduction of the 

 mutton trade in New Zealand is stated to have had much to do 

 with the present desire in New South Wales to enter vigorously 

 into an enterprise which promises to become, in the near future, 

 one of the most important branches of industry in the Colony. 

 The Under Secretary says that it has been urged, and no doubt 

 with truth, that the proximity of the shipping ports to the 

 pastures of New Zealand gives that Colony a great advantage 

 over New South Wales, and that consequently the success 

 achieved in the former Colony is no proof that the trade wdll be 

 a success in the latter. On the other hand, however, it is stated 

 that in America, where the trade is successfully conducted, meat 

 is carried by rail 1,000 or even 1,400 miles to the port of ship- 

 ment, and though the sea voyage from America to Great Britain 

 is much shorter than from 'Nesv South Wales, the distances 

 by rail are so much greater that possibly it may be found that 

 the conditions in New South ^yales will enable her to com- 

 pete successfully with both those countries. It is thought 



