Report on the Trade in Animals. 
205 
sent to either place, he would doubtless have found a consider- 
able number of diseased animals. 
The great October fair of Ballinasloe is not only the largest 
in Ireland in point of numbers of stock sent there, but also the 
most noted for the quality of the cattle. The yearly records 
of the progress of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland, which are 
admirably arranged in the office of the Veterinary Department 
in Dublin, show, I believe, that shortly after the period at 
which this fair is held, the returns of fresh outbreaks of " dis- 
temper " suddenly increase to a marked extent. It was therefore 
gratifying to learn that this year the Government had sent an 
inspector to Ballinasloe, and that this gentleman possessed ex- 
ceptional qualifications, and was, as I was informed, invested 
with ample authority. 
The great fair commenced on Tuesday, October 1st. That day 
and the next were chiefly devoted to the sale of sheep, and it is 
sufficient to mention that the published returns showed that 
between 70,000 and 80,000 sheep * had passed through the 
" gaps," as the entrances to the park of Garbally and the adjacent 
fair-green are locally termed. The third day was the great horse- 
fair, but a large number of cattle also arrived in anticipation of 
the morrow. I arrived at Ballinasloe early on Friday morning, 
fortunate in the possession of a letter of introduction to the 
Government Veterinary Commissioner, The immense fair-green 
was packed with cattle, and it was therefore with great interest 
that I undertook the task of ascertaining by what means, and with 
what staff, this immense number of beasts was being inspected. 
The returns subsequently published showed that there were more 
than 17,000 cattle t on the fair-green that day. They were not 
* The actual numbers were : — 
1871, 
1872. 
Sold 
71,217 
63,152 
12,0G0 
11,250 

Total 
83,277 
74,402 
t The actual numbers were : — 
Over 2 years old. 
Two year olds. 
Calves. 
Total. 
1871. 
1872. 
1871. 
1872. 
1871. 
1872. 
1871. 1 1872. 
Sold.. .. 
Unsold . . \ 
14,885 
1.129 
12,936 
3,191 
1,704 
0 
937 
436 
114 
190 
8 
0 
16,703 
1,319 
13,881 
3,627 
16,014 
16,127 
1,704 
1,373 
304 
8 
18,022 
17,508 
p 2 
