Growth and Development of the Trade in Frozen Mutton. 229 
Newport with sheep for Cardiff, where and at Birmingham, as 
well as at Glasgow, Liverpool, and London, proper cold stores 
are now available for keeping supplies. Taking account, how- 
ever, only of the chief centres of receipt, whence a large distribu- 
tion is now made by rail to other places, the Argentine imports 
for the past six years have been thus distributed : — 
Carcasses imported from tlie River Plate 
Year 
Into Londou 
Into Liverpool 
Total 
1883 
17,165 
17,165 
1884 
108,823 
108,823 
1885 
190,571 
190,571 
1886 
331,245 
103,454 
434,699 
1887 
242,903 
398,963 
641,866 
1888 
169,282 
754,721 
924,003 
It is evident from the above that, since 1886, when consign- 
ments were first made to Liverpool, that port has become the 
great centre of the Argentine trade. Compared with the 
previous years, the number of carcasses sent to London in 1888 
exhibits a considerable reduction, while as respects Liverpool the 
number of frozen sheep received from the Plate in 1888 was 
very nearly twice as great as in 1887. 
For the year 1888 the following statement discriminates the 
proportions furnished by the several exporters of Argentine 
mutton, and their ports of arrival here. Liverpool, it will be 
seen, is most favoured by all, the River Plate Fresh Meat 
Company sending less than a tenth of their cargoes to London. 
Frozen sheep imported 
Total 
Of which at 
Liverpool 
London 
„ Nelson 
„ River Plate Fresh Meat 
Co 
187,078 
245,638 
300,940 
182,619 
115,449 
190,740 
276,080 
165,986 
71,629 
54,898 
24,860 
16,633 
Total .... 
916,275 
748,255 
168,020 
These figures represent entire carcasses only, and to them 
must be added, to bring them up to those shown above, the half 
carcasses and quarters occasionally shipped. 
Perhaps too much has been argued from the published 
balance-sheets of companies both in this and the New Zealand 
trade as to the initial losses which invariably overtake the 
pioneers of such trades as this. Very many circumstances only 
indirectly connected with the business itself go to make the loss 
