Export of Russian Sheep. 



87 



August of the present year, exception being made of maize 

 and maize flour, the exportation of which is prohibited until 

 the 1 5th November. The prohibition to export barley was, 

 however, suspended on June ist. 



The Journal of the Agricultural Society of Moscow has 



recently published information relating to 



Export of ^i^g efforts which have been made durinsf 

 Russian Sheep ^ 

 to France. late years to export sheep from Russia 



into France. The trade commenced in 

 the year 1889, when the French Government permitted the 

 landing of Russian sheep at the Mediterranean ports. The 

 imports amounted to 28,000 head in 1894, to 34,000 in 1895, 

 and to 27,000 in 1896. The animals are obtained principally 

 in the northern districts of the Caucasus, and they are shipped 

 from Odessa and Nikolaieff. The financial results of the 

 iiidustry do not appear to have been very successful hitherto, 

 owing, it is stated, to the difficulties w^hich generally 

 accompany a new industry. More recently, however, efforts 

 have been made by the Russian flock-masters to obtain better 

 results. A small party was appointed to accompany a con- 

 signment of 4,500 merino sheep which were exported by 

 nine breeders in the spring of 1897. The voyage to 

 Marseilles lasted ten days, and only a few casualties 

 occurred at sea. The animals did not lose much in weight 

 and their average was 100 lbs. on arrival in France^ The 

 average cost, including carriage, of the sheep amounted to 

 1 6s. 8d. per head, and a certain number of them were sold 

 for 30s. 4d., while others realised only 20s. lod. per head. It 

 is, however, estimated that the transport charges can be 

 reduced by half a crown per head, and that carefully selected 

 animals will compete successfully in the French market with 

 Algerian mutton, the French sheep itself being considered 

 much superior by reason of its weight, early maturity, and the 

 quality of its flesh. 



