2 00 



Exports of Pure-bred Sheep 



from this country is likely to be maintained for some 

 3-ears at least at its present, or even possibly at a higher, 

 level. It is not, however, in the main, a trade in highly- 

 priced animals. Germany has been a consistent purchaser 

 of British sheep for the last thirty years, the trade having 

 reached its maximum in 1883, when 2,937 were imported from 

 the United Kingdom. Since that time, however, the flocks 

 of Germany have dwindled to one-half, and it would be rash 

 to assume that any expansion of the trade with that country 

 is probable. Within the past few years an active demand 

 has arisen from Uruguay, and the comparatively high prices 

 paid for sheep sent there in 1900 indicate the enterprise of 

 buyers. Still more recently Chili has become a purchaser, and 

 both these countries — the former particularly — may for some 

 time take a number of British sheep annually. The demand 

 from Australia and New Zealand is intermittent and un- 

 certain, but if statements which have lately appeared in 

 Australasian papers as to the increased sheep-carrying 

 capacity of the North Island of New Zealand are well founded, 

 some impetus may probably be given for a time to the trade 

 with that colony. The future demand for sheep from South 

 Africa is obviously a matter of speculation, more especially 

 as no statistics of the sheep stock before the war are avail- 

 able except as regards Cape Colony and Natal. In 1897 

 289 sheep were sent to Cape Colony, and, in 1898, 207 

 were sent to Natal. There seems reason to hope that 

 with the settlement of South Africa the market there for 

 British pedigree sheep may be revived, and, perhaps 

 largely extended. 



There does not appear to be any indication of an increased 

 demand for British sheep in the immediate future from any 

 European country, unless, it may be, from Russia. During 

 the past three years 262 have been sent to that country, the 

 demand having been most active in 1898, the greater 

 number having been sent to the northern ports of Russia; 

 and it is known that specimens of various breeds have been 

 purchased by the Russian Government for purposes of 

 experiment or demonstration in connection with educational 

 establishments. 



