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no longer be exporters of meat, but will either have to get some of their
supplies from outside or to develop their own resources in some new direction.
Hence, the American cattle firms in acquiring and developing the
works in Argentina may have some other views than merely capturing the
meat trade of England; and if the United States is likely to become an
importer in course of a few years, these far-seeing firms may be trusted
to be prepared for such an eventuality and quite capable of turning it to
their own advantage. In 1905 there were imported into this country from
the United States 415,000 bullocks, from Canada 148,000; last year the
number from the States was 205,000, from Canada 113,000, and so far as
the Central Market is concerned there was a falling off in the supply of
English-killed American of 10,054 tons. The carcase butchers have devoted
themselves so unreservedly to the "Foreign Cattle Trade" that if they
should be unable to persuade the Government to allow the importation of
those from Argentina, they will have to turn their attention to our home
markets. There is still the same diversity of opinion amongst farmers and
stock breeders as to the advisability of admitting Canadian store cattle, so
much so, that it is quite curious to hear the different views to which they
give expression. It simply amounts to this—those who buy store cattle for
feeding want them admitted, as the supply of stores being then larger, they
would buy theirs cheaper, and so have wider margin for profit. Those who
breed cattle object, as they say that the lower price they would get for their
stores would make their business unremunerative. It is evident that someone
has to suffer ; the question is, who ? but it is one for themselves, the general
public is not interested, as there is nothing in it which would make beef either
better or cheaper.
The depressed condition of the mutton trade would of itself account
for the very small number of sheep sent alive. It is really pitiful to see the
fine sheep market at Deptford standing idle and unoccupied month after
month.
5. Refrigerated Beef.—The imports of refrigerated beef from the United
States have been about one-third of what they were four years ago. At
the Central Market the decrease has amounted to nearly 17,000 tons, and
unfortunately this does not, by any means, indicate the extent of the fallingoff—which
has been more marked in the quality of the meat sent than
in the quantity. The firms who import United States beef are all pretty
largely interested in the Argentine trade, and seem to be much more concerned
in developing it than in bringing meat here from the States. The
returns kindly furnished by the Superintendent of the Central Market show
that while there has been a falling-off of 10,054 tons in North American
(English-killed) and of 16,826 tons in North American chilled—together
26,880 tons, this deficit has been compensated for by an increase of 26,595
tons from Argentina. At the commencement of the year there were several
lots of this beef more or less out of condition, and the trade being slow the
owners were unable to move it on as rapidly as they would have liked. The