MARKET FOR CATTLE AND HORSES IN CANADA.

From observations in this Province, I am led to believe that there is a field here for the importation of well-bred horses, cattle, and sheep from the United States.

The horses in this vicinity are nearly all undersized and very poorly bred. Good driving horses are very scarce, and good draft horses seem to be almost unknown. It seems to me there is a chance for the importation into British Columbia of a considerable number of stallions of good blood, to be used to improve the native stock. It is also probable that a market could be found here for a limited number of well-bred brood mares, if the prices were reasonable. I understand that animals imported for breeding purposes can be brought in duty free under proper customs supervision.

The cattle I have seen here, with a few noteworthy exceptions, are not generally of the best breed. This should afford a market for the higher bred stock. I think a few shorthorns and Jersey bulls could be sold or used to the profit of the importer. Probably both cows and bulls of these and other good breeds could be sold in limited quantities.

This country of hills and valleys would seem to be well adapted to the breeding of sheep, though I have seen only one small flock in my visits through the Province. The only suggestion I have heard unfavorable to sheep raising is that the climate on the western side of the mountains is very humid, owing to the great rainfall in that region; yet the one thriving flock I saw was in the heart of the wet district. The atmosphere east of the mountains is freer from moisIt seems to me that there is a fair opportunity for some enterprising stock raiser to bring into this Province some high-class stock. I believe he would find a good market.

ture.

Not being an expert in these matters, I hope that no one will act upon the suggestions I have made without full investigation, which I shall be glad to facilitate so far as lies in my power.

In confirmation of what I have said, I respectfully invite attention to the inclosed article, which appeared as an editorial in the Evening World of this city August 5.

L. EDWIN DUDLEY,

VANCOUVER, August 6, 1898.

Consul.

It was thought by many-and there seemed good ground for such conclusionsthat with the introduction of electricity and modern machinery the day for the profitable raising of horses might almost be classed as past. Before the introduction of the electric street car, horses for use on the street railways were in great demand.

Those required for this purpose were what might be called a second grade, as but few high-class animals were used. A ready market was therefore found for a class of horses which are now a drug on the market. But the price of first-class ones in the coach and draft classes was always good, and dealers report a great scarcity of those in eastern Canada. It is with difficulty that a decent shipment can be collected, simply because the country has been drained of its best material; and the great majority of farmers have stopped breeding them, thinking that because there has been almost no market for second-grade horses for a few years, it was not profitable to raise any at all. Those who followed the rule which should be the guiding one as regards all kinds of stock, namely, to raise nothing but an Ai article, are now reaping the benefit. There are plenty of horses in British Columbia; but the large majority are of the wrong grade, and consequently would not be looked at for supplying the best markets. Many of the range horses make suitable farm or pack animals, but they are under size and poorly bred. What the Province wants in this line is the introduction of more pure-bred sires to improve the native stock, and there is no reason why this should not be made a very profitable source of income.

CANADIAN CHEESE.

While a perusal of the report furnished by Consul Dickinson, of Nottingham, England,* regarding the importation of cheese into the United Kingdom discloses facts of great interest to our manufacturers, a study of this leading dairy industry of Canada shows some additional facts, which tend to further explain the discrepancy referred to by Consul Dickinson, viz, that of the total importations of cheese into the United Kingdom in 1897, 58 per cent came from Canada, while only 24 per cent came from the United States.

It must be understood that Canada manufactures her cheese largely for export, 90 per cent of her entire yearly output being disposed of in the United Kingdom; and her manufacturers have long since realized the necessity of making a prime uniform article to meet the special demands of that market. To do this, they have thoroughly organized, and through their organization they control the quality intended for export. They have been aided largely in this by instructors appointed by the Dominion and provincial governments, who regularly visit the different factories and superintend the manufacture, thereby insuring a uniform product. The organization in Ontario consists of the eastern and western associations, and all the factories belong to one or the other of these. Then there are minor district associations to which all the factories in that district belong. These associations are presided over by a president and secretary, and a record is kept of all transactions pertaining to the industry. Their manner of placing their product upon the market also tends to control the quality of the output, as well as to bring the producer and exporter into closer touch, besides enabling the

*See CONSULAR REPORTS No. 212 (May, 1898), p. 109.

manufacturer to obtain the highest price as based upon the latest market report.

A method which, I believe, is generally adhered to throughout the Province of Ontario is as follows: Each district or subassociation holds a weekly market, at which market any factory in that district may advertise the number of boxes of cheese it has for sale, stating the color and age. The boxes are then and there sold to the highest bidder; and no cheese is bought or sold and no negotiations of any kind are entered into relating to the purchase or sale of cheese on market day, except in public competition under this system. There are eighteen such associations in the Province of Ontario, representing one thousand two hundred and six factories, with an annual output of more than 100,000,000 pounds. HENRY S. CULver,

LONDON, ONTARIO, July 25, 1898.

Consul

CANNED MEATS IN MADAGASCAR.

In reply to an inquiry from a Chicago firm, Consul Gibbs writes from Tamatave, June 2, 1898:

It is only recently that canned meats have been on sale here. The French manner of canning a variety of edibles is somewhat different from ours, meat being the chief component part. There is an active demand for this article in the local market, and there is a considerable supply of canned ham, English brawn, labeled "Armour & Co.," and casks of corned beef and pickled pork, also said to be American products. English canned meats are also to be had, consisting of Oxford sausages, retailing at 1.75 francs (34 cents) each; lunch sheep's tongues, at 3 francs (57 cents); preserved ox tongues, at 4 francs (77 cents) each; curried brawn, at 1.25 francs (24 cents), etc. The cans labeled "Armour & Co." sell at: Ham, 1.75 francs (34 cents); English brawn, 1.50 francs (28 cents); corned beef, from cask, 18 cents per pound; pickled pork, 19 cents per pound.

The freight charges on such articles coming from English and American ports are $8 per ton.

The customs duties on such goods coming into the port of Tamatave are: Canned meats, $4 per 200 kilograms (440.92 pounds); casks of corned beef, $6 per 200 kilograms; pickled pork, $5 per 200 kilograms. In addition, there is a municipal tax of 1 per cent on net cost. French goods are free.

The annual importation of these goods into this port is approximately as follows: English, about 400 dozen tins; French, about 800

or 1,000 dozen tins; American, about 400 dozen tins; and corned beef and pickled pork, about 150 casks.

The merchants handling these goods at Tamatave are: Messrs. Chan, Ming & Co., Ajan Tank Wen & Co., Chan Soon, Chan Weng, Proctor Bros., I. Dupuy, A. Dupré, Rébut & Sarraute.

The consumption of such products is dependent largely on the foreign population. There is some doubt in my mind as to whether canned meats can be successfully placed on this market, unless they are sausage meat, ham, bacon, and brawn, and such fancy varieties. as those packed and exported by Felix Potin, of Paris. It is obvious that it is no easy matter to successfully compete with French canned meats in this market, since the latter are exempt from customs duties.

JAPANESE HARBOR REGULATIONS

PORTS.

FOR OPEN

Minister Buck transmits from Tokyo, under date of July 15, 1898, official translation (in print) of the new harbor regulations promulgated by imperial ordinance, as follows:

HARBOR REGULATIONS FOR THE OPEN PORTS.

ARTICLE I.

The limits of the undermentioned ports open to foreign commerce are defined as follows:

At Yokohama: The harbor limits are comprised within a line drawn from the Juniten (Mandarin Bluff) to the light-ship and thence due north to a point on the coast east of the mouth of the Tsurumigawa.

At Kobé: The harbor limits are comprised within the area bounded by two lines, one drawn from the former mouth of the Ikutagawa due south and the other running in a northeasterly direction from the point of Wadanomisaki.

At Niigata: The harbor limits are comprised within the arc of a circle, the center being the light-house and the radius being 21⁄2 nautical miles.

At Ebisuminato: The harbor limits are comprised within a line drawn from Shiidomarimura to Tsori-mura on the outside and a line drawn from Minatocho, the east shore of Lake Kamo, to Kamomura, on the northwest shore of the same on lake.

At Osaka: The harbor limits are comprised within a line drawn from Tree Point, at the mouth of the Mukogawa, south by west and a line from the mouth of the Yamatogawa, the two lines cutting each other at a distance of 6 nautical miles from Tree Point and 5 nautical miles from the mouth of the Yamatogawa.

At Nagasaki: The harbor limits are comprised within a line drawn from Kanzaki to Megami.

At Hakodate: The harbor limits are comprised within a line drawn from a point off the coast one-half nautical mile south of Anama Point, to a point on the east bank of the mouth of the Arikawa, Kami-isomura.

ARTICLE II.

Every vessel on entering a port shall hoist its ensign and its signal letters. Regular mail packets may hoist the company's flag in lieu of the signal letters. The ensign and signal letters or flag must not be lowered until the vessel's arrival shall have been duly reported to the harbor master.

Such report shall be made within twenty-four hours after arrival, Sundays and holidays excepted, and no customs facilities shall be extended to any vessel until such report shall have been made.

ARTICLE III.

Every master on arrival in port shall prevent all communication between his ship and other vessels or the shore until it shall have been admitted to 'free pratique.”

ARTICLE IV.

The harbor master's boat will be in attendance near the entrance of the harbor, and the harbor master will assign a berth to every ship on entering, which berth it must not leave without special permission, unless forced to do so. The harbor master may cause a vessel to change its berth, should he consider it necessary.

ARTICLE V.

The harbor master shall always wear a uniform when on duty, and his boat shall carry a flag of the pattern hereto annexed.

The harbor master may, at any time, satisfy himself that his directions as regards anchorage, the movements of ships, and the proper condition of moorings are carried out.

ARTICLE VI.

No vessel shall anchor in the public fairway or otherwise obstruct free navigation. Vessels which have run out jib-booms shall rig them in at the request of the harbor master if they obstruct free navigation.

ARTICLE VII.

Every vessel either at anchor or under weigh within harbor limits shall carry, between sunset and sunrise, the lights required by the regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea.

ARTICLE VIII.

When bad weather threatens or warning signals are exhibited, vessels shall immediately get ready one or more reserve anchors; and steamships shall, in addition, get up steam.

ARTICLE IX.

Any vessel carrying explosives or highly inflammable materials in excess of ordinary requirements shall come to outside the harbor limits and there await the harbor master's orders. Such vessels while so waiting shall, between sunrise and sunset, fly at the foremast head the signal letter "B," and between sunset and sunrise shall hoist in the same place a red lantern.

No vessel shall ship or discharge any such materials except at such places as the harbor master may indicate.

ARTICLE X.

Every ship which is laid up or undergoing repairs, and all yachts, storeships, lighters, boats, etc., shall be moored in special berths designated by the harbor

master.