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are wrapped in a cloth which usually bears either the label or stamp of
inspection in the United States, the value of which is at present unknown.
They also send pork loins, pork cuttings, ox tails and tongues, pig and ox
kidneys and livers, sheep and lambs' plucks, all of which are packed into boxes
while soft, frozen hard, shipped here, and sold to the retailer, like the pigs, in
a frozen state and generally without the boxes being opened, though it is only
fair to say that the objection to the opening often comes from the retailer, who
wants to present his goods to the public as fresh as possible; boneless chucks
are the greater part of the forequarter of beef, the bones removed, the soft mass
packed into boxes and frozen hard, in which state it is sold to sausage.
makers, keepers of cheap restaurants and others; chopped sausage.meat has
come in small quantities, also a compound cooked sausage. All these bear the
United States label of inspection, the value of which has been already reported
upon, but there is no possibility of a thorough inspection in this country.
Chilled Argentine beef has been coming in larger quantities than ever, and
with such regularity that any break in the supply, as a day or two delay owing
to a sea fog, will seriously affect the whole trade of the market. The time
occupied in transit is so severe a strain on the keeping qualities of the meat
and the tendency to rapid deterioration after leaving the refrigerator, if at all
out of condition, so great, that from the first your officers have felt it incumbent
on them to be somewhat strict in the inspection of this meat. Subsequent
experience has confirmed the necessity of this course, the result being the
adoption to a greater degree of the facilities afforded by the mail and other
faster steamers, and the consequent arrival of the meat in better condition,
the ultimate result thus being that the importer benefits by the rigid inspection.
The supply of New Zealand mutton and beef continues the "even tenor
of its way" almost without incident, and Australian meat is again reasserting
its rights to a place on the market. The system of grading has been brought
so far into touch with English ideas and requirements as to make it both safe
and easy for dealers to give large buyers orders on the Cold Air Stores for
what they may chance to require, and there is no denying the economy of the
practice, as cartage and market tolls are both saved, as well as the loss of
condition consequent upon exposure in the market, but it opens up the
question as to whether Meat Inspectors should not be afforded by law some
greater control, and also whether the owners of these Cold Air Stores should
not be required to take out a licence annually as is the case with slaughterhouses.
An increasing number of pigs have come from Australia; these, as a rule,
were very good, but some parcels in the early part of the year were imperfect.
Pigs have also come from Argentina, many of which proved to be tuberculous;
and in small numbers from Russia. Danish pigs have been few in number,
and during the latter part of the year usually conspicuous by their absence;
and of Dutch pigs there has also been a diminished supply. Considering the
high prices realised for those sent, this points to the conclusion that much
of the meat from both the last named countries has gone to make good the
shortage in Germany. We are informed that a Bill has passed the Netherlands