Report on the Trade in Animals. 
211 
Ballinasloe is doubtless true of every fair and great market in 
Ireland, the only essential difference being the greater or less 
time during which the animals are kept in a starving condition, 
as that of course varies with the distance, and the facilities of 
communication, between the place of origin of the cattle and 
their port of destination in England. 
It therefore seems to me that, as a matter of humanity as well 
as of commercial expediency, a detention in the receiving-yard 
of the steamboat company should be enforced by law sufficient 
to allow of the feeding and inspection of the stock previous 
to their shipment to England. Many objections have been 
urged against this view, but those who read this report will 
probably be able to estimate their value after considering the 
facts relating to inspection in England, by the light of the know- 
ledge of the results of inspection on the Continent. 
Irish Ports. — More than one-third of the total number of 
animals exported from Ireland * are sent by way of Dublin ; and 
lines of steamers ply regularly between the North Wall and 
Liverpool, Holyhead, Bristol, Glasgow, Silloth, and other ports. 
No record is kept of the ports of destination of animals exported 
from Ireland to Great Britain, but there can be no question that 
by far the largest proportion of the consignments of live stock 
from Dublin go to Liverpool and Holyhead. I therefore devoted 
particular attention to the arrangements connected with these 
lines of communication between Ireland and Great Britain. 
Cattle, sheep, and pigs exported via Dublin are either purchased 
in the cattle-market on the market-day (Thursday), or they are 
sent from the inland fairs, markets, and farms by road or rail. 
Formerly, all animals intended for shipment to England were 
of necessity driven either from the cattle-market, or the various 
railway stations, across the middle of the city ; but recently the 
Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland has extended its line 
to North Wall, and thus a great amount of unnecessary driving" 
and cruelty has been obviated. 
When animals intended for shipment to England arrive ati 
North Wall they are taken to the receiving-yard or lair belonging 
to the steamboat or railway company by whose route they are to> 
be sent. These yards abut against the roadway of the quay, and 
are adjacent to the offices of the several companies. I cannot say 
that I have seen every receiving-yard of the kind in Dublin, but 
1 have examined enough to enable me to state that they belong to 
two categories, one exceedingly good in arrangement and mode of 
* These were as follows, in 1870, 1871, and 1872 : — 
Oxen, Bulls, and Cows. Calves. Sheep and Lambs. Swine. 
1870 .. 415,673 .. 38,206 .. 620,834 .. 422,076 
1871 .. 423,396 .. 00,529 .. 684,708 .. 528.244 
1872 (Cattle) 616,080 .. .. .. 518,606 .. 443,644 
