March 1897.] IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. 429 



The following table shows that the value of the oxen and bulls 

 imported in 1896 fell from an average of 171. 6s. per head to 

 161. lis., and that sheep also declined by 4s. per head • — 



Animals. 



Numbers. 



Values. 



1895. 



1896. 



1895. 



1896. j 





No. 



No. 



£ 



£ I 



Oxen and Bulls 



413,337 



558,361 



7,150,812 



9,241,455 I 



Cows - - - 



1,880 



3,987 



31.049 



62,231 



Calves - 



348 



205 



l',179 



1,369 



Sheep and Lambs 



1,065,470 



769,592 



1,782,544 



1,133,634 



Swine - 



321 



4 



1 663 



10 



The exports of cattle of British and Irish origin very considerably 

 declined, but those of sheep increased, as will be seen from the 

 following table. The increasing value of these animals is, however, 

 an indication of the larger proportion in which this trade 

 consists of high class and pedigree animals. Last year it would 

 appear that the average value of the exported cattle per head was 

 271. 18s. against only 161. 13s , in 1895 ; for sheep the average 

 rose to 111. 6s. against 81. lis. 6d. The much reduced exports 

 of swine were valued at 71. 19s. per head in 1896. 



Description. 



Numbers. 



Values. 



1895. 



1896. 



1895. 



1896. 





No. 



No. 





& 



Cattle - 



7,951 



4,362 



132,413 



121,624 



Sheep and lambs 



6,966 



9,499 



59,760 



107,377 



Swine - 



3,069 



359 



13,956 



2,847 



Imports of Dead Meat. 



The year has been remarkable in the extent of the dead meat 

 import trade, most classes of meat showing increases^ both in 

 quantity and aggregate values, not only over the amounts 

 entered in 1895, but also over the amounts recorded in any pre- 

 vious year. The United States furnished about seven-ninths of 

 the fresh beef, and two-thirds of the bacon and Hams imported, 

 while Australasia and Argentina together sent some nine-tenths 

 of the mutton. The most important feature in the bacon trade 

 is the steadily increasing importance of Denmark and Canada, 

 the latter colony sending us 70 per cent, more than in 1895. 



