Siberian Butter Trade. 



branches at Kourgan, Tomsk, and Omsk. By means of 

 shows and periodical meetings of manufacturers and 

 exporters, arranged by the Kourgan branch of the above 

 Society, producers and exporters have been able to come into 

 constant intercourse with one another, to exchange views in 

 general, and to work out the best conditions and arrange- 

 ments possible for the direct export of Siberian butter to the 

 consuming markets, at the head of which is London, so as to 

 do away as far as possible with intermediaries, hitherto 

 mostly Danes. 



The export of Siberian butter to foreign countries first 

 began to assume appreciable importance in 1898. 



The following figures show the increase (1) of the export 

 across the Urals from the above-mentioned area of pro- 

 duction, and (2) of the export abroad by European frontiers, 



according to official statistics 







Year. 



Export of Siberian 

 Butter across the Ural 



Export of Butter from the European 

 Frontiers of Russia. 





by Rail. 



Quantity. 



Value. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



£ 



1898 - 



2,407 



9,935 



699,788 



1899 - - 



4,083 



10,161 



746,243 



1900 - 



y * 17/496 



19,339 



1,425,714 



In spite of this growth, attained in so brief a period, much 

 yet remains to develop the butter industry of Siberia, which 

 is not only behind that of European and other countries, but 

 inferior even to that of Finland ; the share of Russia in the 

 international market in the trade of dairy produce reaching 

 but 1 J to 2 per cent., and this only for the last year or two, 

 thanks to the development of Siberian butter. The financial 

 resources resulting from the increasing export cannot, how- 

 ever, but serve to raise the material welfare of the people, 

 and, in consequence, lead to an improvement in the breed 

 and care of the cattle, and to an increase of stock. The condi- 

 tions of export are not altogether favourable, more especially 



