View report page

262
1912]
Year.
Oxen.
Cows.
Calves.
Sheep
Lambs.
Pigs.
Total.
1899* 2,436* 402* 436* 43,252* 903* 47,429*
1900 3,019 668 356 52,760 464 57,267
19011 1 ,507† 440† 195† 23.324† 125† 25,595†
1902 2,996 498 195 41,024 72 44,785
1903 2,445 173 141 38,090 46 40,895
1904 2,360 4 154 32,973 25 35,516
1905 2,195 17 127 30,686 48 33,073
1906 2,172 — 143 30,608 11 32,994
1907 2,146 4 142 24,380 2 26,374
1908 1,941 — 8* 28,476 4 30,507
1909 1,763 6 100 36,48 ‡
1910 1,691 — 91 36,176 — 37,958
1911 1,448 — 73 38,009§ — 39,530
1912 1,085 — 40 29,310 — 30,435
* These returns are for 9 months
† The returns are for 6 months.
§ Includes 8 goats.
‡ Includes 2 goats.
One cannot examine this statement, which shows the number of oxen,
cows, calves, sheep, lambs and pigs slaughtered in the Borough for food
purposes since 1899, without being struck with the remarkable decrease which
has taken place during recent years, for whereas in 1900 there were 3,019 oxen
slaughtered, in 1912 there were only 1,085; again in 1900 there were 356
calves killed, whereas in 1912 there were only 40. The number of sheep and
lambs has fallen from 52,760 in 1900, to 29,310 in 1912, while the slaughter ot
pigs has fallen from 464 to nil. The most pleasant part of the return is that
whereas in 1900 there were 668 cows slaughtered, in 1912 there was not one.
The slaughter of these, for the most part miserable, animals have been driven
away from the Borough. Altogether the number of animals slaughtered in
Islington has fallen from 57,267 in 1900, to 30,435 in 1912. These results are
mainly due to the large increase that has taken place in the importation of
foreign meat, especially that coming from the Argentine States, which, however
much it may be regretted, nevertheless supplies a very sound, wholesome food ;
indeed, few people, at all events so far as beef is concerned, are able to detect
the difference between it and good English or Scotch. Only a little time since
a statement was made to the Medical Officer of Health that the beef which was
sold by the butchers in London was for the most part Argentine produce, and,
which is the serious part of the statement, that it was invariably sold as
English or Scotch beef. However true this may be, it is very patent that