Dec. 1896.] WOOL SUPPLY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 247 



From the foregoing statement it would appear that the 

 imported raw wool now represents over 70 per cent, of the 

 total quantity required annually for the home and export trade 

 in woollen materials. Comparing the estimated supply with 

 the population at the first and last period given in the table, the 

 average weight of raw wool from all sources available for con- 

 sumption has risen from approximately 10 lbs. to 12 lbs. per 

 head of the people of the United Kingdom. A further analysis 

 of these figures has shown that, whereas the home production 

 contributed about two-fifths, or 4 lbs. of the 10 lbs. at the 

 earlier period, it has furnished just over one-fourth, or barely 

 3 1 lbs. out of the average supply per individual, viz.. 12 lbs. in. 

 more recent years. The diminution in the production of British 

 and Irish wool illustrated by these figures affords support to 

 the argument that there has been some displacement of the 

 home-grown product in our markets. 



In the first half of the present century the bulk of the wool 

 imported into this country came from the Continent and as 

 late as 1846 the receipts from across the Channel represented 

 about 45 per cent, of the annual importation. During the last 

 50 years, however, the consignments from British Colonies and 

 Possessions have gradually displaced the supplies from foreign 

 countries, and the latter now constitute less than 15 per cent, of 

 the total amount of wool received annually in the ports of the 

 United Kingdom. 



One of the most remarkable features of the import trade has 

 been the steady expansion of the quantities entered yearly from 

 Australasia. In 1850 the Australian colonies were credited for 

 the first time with about 50 per cent, of the total weight of 

 wool entered. Since that year they have maintained and 

 strengthened their position as the principal competitor among 

 the countries contributing to the volume of imports, and recently 

 the Australasian cargoes have represented in weight about 70 

 per cent, of the aggregate quantity entered annually from all 

 sources. South African wool has formed about 11 per cent, of 

 the annual average gross importation of the past three years^ 

 while the East Indies have sent just over 5 per cent. 



In view of the important position occupied by Australasian 

 produce in the British wool -market, it may be not out of place 

 to review briefly at this stage the chief features connected with 

 the growth of the colonial trade in wool, which is generally 

 regarded as the principal product of the pastoral industry of the 

 Australian continent. At the end of 1894 the total number of 

 sheep in Australasia was estimated at 121,161,000 head, of 

 which number about 57 millions, or 47 per cent., were owned by 

 New South Wales; New Zealand ranked next with 20 millions, 

 or 16 \ per cent. ; Queensland was credited with 19 millions, or 

 16 per cent.; Victoria with 13 millions, or 11 per cent.; and 

 South Australia with 7 millions, or 6 per cent. Thus New 

 South Wales is the premier sheep-breeding colony, and it is 

 maintained that, while Victoria has nearly reached the limit of 



