Report on the American and Canadian Meat Trade. 351 
loss modify these opinions in several respects; the Americans 
are, however, in a far better position than we are to estimate the 
extent of the resources on which the new trade hangs, and that 
they will ultimately accomplish all, or nearly all, that is now 
claimed as the probable future of the meat trade, is at present 
certainly less within our capacity to deny than it is within theirs 
to affirm. 
Among the general men of business in America the new trade 
has not aroused much interest ; they know in a casual sort of 
way that such a trade has recently opened out, but beyond that 
they do not seem to care anything about it. The newspapers, 
we are told, have given it but scant notice, and in private circles 
it is but seldom the topic of conversation. The interest in it 
which has found expression is almost totally confined to the 
farmers, the butchers, the cattle-dealers and the exporters, but 
amongst these the interest is keen. They have so far convinced 
themselves that the trade is destined to go on increasing and 
prospering, that they are already at a loss to comprehend by 
what process of reasoning any one can come to think it is not. 
At the same time there is no element of philanthropy in their 
calculations — all is pure business, nothing else. They tell us 
with refreshing candour that they have no intention of sending 
us meat lor the benevolent purpose of keeping down the price 
of it in this country, though they may be more favourably in- 
clined to do it with the view of keeping up the price of it in 
their own — of making farming more profitable. In the ' Agri- 
cultural Gazette,' of March 12th in the present year, an American 
correspondent, who is apparently well versed in the present 
aspects of the new trade, says : — 
" One consideration may be thrown into the calculation, which is this. The 
American meat-market has been drooping steadily for some years past, and it' 
it were not that more than 1000 head of the best cattle are shipped weekly, 
no one knows to what depth the prices here would sink. To get rid of this 
surplus, therefore, helps greatly to maintain the market rates ; and if there is 
no direct profit there is an indirect gain, which is about the same thing. Just 
as our cotton manufacturers have sent cloths to Manchester, and have 
' slaughtered ' them there rather than have had them to weigh down the home 
markets — or as has been done in other similar ways thousands of times. . . . 
our dealers have invested large amounts of capital in the business, and, as has 
been pointed out, may very well feel inclined to sell meat in England at cost, 
or a small loss even, rather than have their market here imperilled. In the 
fruit season one may see thousands of cases of strawberries and peaches dumped 
into the river, to go out with the tide, rather than have them thrown upon 
the market and demoralise prices. Why might not something of the same 
character be done in the meat-market if there is money in it ? Much more, 
then, may we look for the cultivation of the export business in meat, if there is 
but a small profit in it. ' Depend upon it, if meat is wanted in England, it can be 
produced here to supply the demand to the fullest extent. It is a question of 
price — nothing more and nothing less." 
