Report on the American and Canadian Meat Trade. 341 
" 170 and 172, Aigyle-street, Glasgow, 
"Dear Sir, "May 19, 1877. 
" We are in receipt of your favour of yesterday, and have much pleasure 
in replying to your queries. 
" The trade in American live cattle was first commenced hy ourselves in 
1873. In June and July of that year we imported several pairs of bullocks, 
to see if they would live during the voyage, and were induced to do so by 
the extremely high prices current for cattle at that time. Finding that the 
cattle stood the voyage well, the writer started for New York in July of 
that year, and began as a regular trade that which has now become such a 
large one. 
" At first our shipments were only about six cattle in each steamer of the 
Anchor Line, but before the end of that season wc shipped fifty in one 
steamer. The only Steamship Company that would entertain our proposals 
at that time to carry cattle was the Anchor Line ; but now they would be all 
very glad to do so, as they see that it is profitable. 
" The cattle are fed during the voyage on hay and Indian corn, and in good 
weather suffer but little in condition, nor do they lose much in weight ; but 
in rough weather they fall off considerably. We have already had one cargo 
of cattle this season into Glasgow, which all arrived safely and in good order, 
and expect our first regular shipment to arrive about Wednesday of next week, 
when we will be glad to see you ; there are 154 cattle in it. We shall have 
about the same number almost weekly thereafter. 
" The freight is 11. per head, skipper paying for fittings, food, and attend- 
ance ; ship only providing sjjace and water. 
" On Thursday last there were three American bullocks sold at 46?. each, 
which were sold by us last autumn to a Fifeshire farmer, and fed by him all 
winter and turned out in splendid order. 
" We have not had many sheep as yet, as sheep in the States have princi- 
pally been reared for wool ; but now that a market for mutton has opened up, 
we may soon expect to receive large numbers. 
" We will be glad to supply you with any further information. 
" Yours truly, 
" John Bell and Sons." 
Practical men accompany the cattle from America to this 
country — on the average, one man to each twenty or twenty-five 
head of cattle. These men come with one steamer and return 
with the other, a much more satisfactory arrangement than 
formerly existed, of picking men up to attend the cattle, offering 
them in payment a free passage to Britain. 
On the morning of July 12th, I went to see S.S. Dominion, 
which had just then arrived in Liverpool from Quebec with 
215 Canadian fat cattle on board. I must admit that the 
cattle to all appearance had suffered less during the voyage than 
I had expected to find was the case. The bulk of them were in as 
good order as the generality of Irish cattle which are landed in 
Liverpool or in Holyhead. A few of them were a little bruised, 
and in some cases the skin was off in patches here and there, but 
none of them had suffered seriously. Most of these cattle were 
the fag ends of large herds from which previous cargoes had 
been drafted ; but they were nevertheless a very useful lot, and 
