442 Imports of Agricultural Produce In 1897. 



Our imports of dead rabbits have rapidly increased within 

 the past few years ; the quantity received in 1897 was 276,458 

 cwts., of the value of ;£543,494. Until 1896, when we 

 imported 170,873 cwts., our annual receipts of this article 

 had only once exceeded 140,000 cwts. An interesting 

 feature in the import trade in poultry and game, is the pro- 

 minent position now occupied by Russia. In 1897 she was 

 credited with consignments to the value of 186,800, thereby 

 ranking second to France, whence we received supplies 

 valued at £2^6,11^. The annual imports of eggs have 

 increased almost uninterruptedly for the past twenty years, 

 and since 1895 they have exceeded ;£4,ooo,ooo in value 

 yearly. In 1 897, Russia figured, in point of quantity, for the 

 first time as the principal competitor in this trade, with 

 a delivery of 375,879,960, out of a total importation ot 

 1,683,810,240; Germany contributed 356,622,000; France, 

 321,080,000; Belgium, 295,702,000; and Denmark, 209,856,000. 



The quantity of potatoes imported last year, 3,922,319 cwts., 

 was the largest annual importation recorded of this vegetable 

 during the past decade, the increase coming chiefly from 

 Germany ; but otherwise the entries of vegetables and fruit 

 for 1897 do not present any features calling for special notice. 



