410 THE BELGIAN POULTRY INDUSTRY. [March 1896, 



Exportation of Eggs from Belgium. 



Countries 



1892. 



1893. 



1S94. 















supplied. 



Grcneral 

 Commen-e. 



Special 

 Commerce. 



General 

 Commerce. 



Special 

 Commerce. 



rirPn Aral 



Com merce. 



Commerce. 



Germany - 



No. 



1,013,600 



No. 



617,500 



No. 



1,015,020 



No. 



1,015,020 



No. 



10,528,164 



No. 



9,413,604 



England - 



282,243,463 



37,350,369 



274,736,607 



28,070,26(5 



363,629,211 



30,048,215 



France 



32,608,515 



27,985,630 



44,065,568 



30,811,895 



56,519,323 



37,821,388 



Netherlands 



3,085,025 



1,643,753 



2,239.476 



934,594 



549,227 



549,167 



Other Countries - 



252,170 



252,170 



233,720 



211,020 



106,775 



106,725 



Total 



319,232,773 



67,849,422 



322,290,391 



61,042,795 



431,332,700 



77,939,099 



The tables of imports and exports (general commerce), given 

 above, show that enormous quantities of eggs pass through Bel- 

 gium in transit, chiefly for England. Since the opening of the St. 

 Gothard tunnel, Italy has become the chief source of this supply. 

 Since this route was opened from Switzerland to Italy the traffic 

 in eggs has been something remarkable. The competition of 

 routes led to a great reduction of rates, and eggs are sent from 

 northern Italy through Belgium to London for much less than 

 used to be charged from northern France. 



It is estimated that Belgium imports each year for her own 

 consumption over 100,000,000 eggs, of which 63,000,000 to 

 76,000,000 are supplied by Italy; and from 14,000,000 to 

 17,500,000 by Germany. 



Eggs are sold in Belgium by weight, and the price varies a 

 great deal, according to the season, the best times being in the 

 spring and autumn. The eggs are packed in long cases, which 

 contain 1,440 eggs, and they are imported into Belgium free of 

 duty. 



In this connection, the following article on Belgium poultry 

 farms is translated from the Ghasse et Peche : — 



Belgian Poultry Farms. 



During the last year or two a new industry has sprung up in many of 

 the large farms in Belgium. Up to that time farmers had never suc- 

 ceeded in keeping more than 100 to 150 laying hens. Now many farms 

 possess 500, and some even double this number. The young pullets are 

 imported from Italy, and their eggs are collected during two seasons, after 

 which the birds have attained their maximum weight and are sold again 

 as table poultry, bringing a higher price than they cost as pullets, and 

 are then replaced by others newly imported. 



The principle is new, and it is based on the division of labour. The 

 pullets are raised in Italy and prepared for market in Belgium, while 

 their eggs are sent to England under the most favourable conditions. 



