Export of American Horses. 



81 



From returns given in this report, it appears that the 

 exports of horses from the United States during the five 

 years 1892-3 to 1896-7 have been successively 2,967 ; 5,246 ; 

 13,984; 25,126; and 39,532; their total value having grown from 

 ^150,000 to ^994,000. Nearly half of the number — 45 per 

 cent, during the period — have been shipped to the United 

 Kingdom, while Canada has taken 21 per cent., and Germany 

 11*5 per cent, of the whole. The actual numbers received, in 

 this country from the United States have grown during the 

 calendar years 1893 to 1897, according to the British Trade 

 Returns, from 1,319 to 26,520. Some few of these were 

 doubtless passing through the United King'dom in transit, 

 their ultimate destination being Belgium, Germany, or 

 France. Our receipts from Canada during the same period, 

 it may be mentioned in this connection, also exhibit a 

 material increase, although not so great as in the case of the 

 United States. 



The principal horse market in the United States is 

 Chicago ; and that the larger number offered for sale there 

 are not to be rated as first class appears from a report by a 

 Government inspector at the stock-yards. He states that 

 86,500 horses were sold from the Chicago market in 1896, 

 and that 80 per cent, of these were common, leaving some 

 18,000 desirable horses, of which 60 per cent, were purchased 

 by foreign buyers. During the first six months of 1897, there 

 were 52,400 sold, less than 25 per cent, being of a class 

 available for exportation, and practically the whole of these 

 were taken for that purpose. 



It is stated that in London the tramway and omnibus 

 companies, jobmasters, and owners of light delivery w T aggons 

 are large purchasers of American horses. 



This report was the outcome of an inquiry made owing to 

 the low prices recently prevailing in America. Horses 

 being then practically a drug in the market, the stock could 

 with advantage be sold cheaply in Europe. As a result, this 

 American trade is considered to have lowered prices, and to 

 have depressed the horse-breeding industry in England; 

 but it is added that the price in the United States is now 

 improving. 



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