The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-05
The Export of Cattle to Great Britain.

| Inc export OF tdttie 10 NTeHt BTltHln'
On New Years Day law went into force
in the British Islands which affects directly
and favorably an important American in.
tcrc-t. We refer TO the order in Council
/ governing the importation Of live stock
which cuts of from the English market Il
large number OF the collaborating colln-
tries of the world, while it signally favors
the United States.
This order is issued in pursuance OF an act
passed couple of months ago. with the
aim of preventing or checking the further
spread OF contagion among English live
stock. 1t was stipulated that the proyis-
ions of the law should take effect only on
and after New Years Day 50 that those
concerned in the foreign cattle trade might
have due notice OF the serious restrictions
contemplated. The order distributes all
foreign cattle into four classes the first Of
which includes those countries whose live
stock, in the judgment of the Privy
Council, are dangerously infected. The
States falling under this prohibition are
such great stock producers as Russia,
Austro-liungary, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and
Roumania, constituting, in word, the
whole Eastern half Of Europe From these
countries no living beast can be imported
into England. In the next category are ami
mails from all other lands not favored by a
special exemption. at which we shall glance
presently. Stock belonging to this second
class will be admitted to so-called foreign
animals wharves," established at London
and at only five other seaports But all
cattle SO received must be slaughtered with
in ten days from the date OF entry, and dur
ing the interval, whether landed or not, are
to be subject to the strict supervision aud
the absolute control OF a Government in
spector. The countries forming the west
crn seaboard Of Europe nearest to England,
namely, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and
France. fall within this class, and all their
live stock is to be dealt with in this way.
Very different are the provisions of the
act regarding animals brought from coun-
tries which the Privy Council deems at
present reasonably free from the danger of
contagiou. Such cattle are altogether ex-
cmpted from slaughter or quarantine. The
countries thus specially excepted and al
lowed a species Of monopoly in the supply
OF the British meat market are Denmark,
Sweden and Norway, Spain. Portugal.
Canada. and the United States. II is true
that. even from these favored puryeyors,
the importation of live stock is subjected 10
some precautions. They are " be- put on
shore only at landing places approved by
the Prvy Council, but these embrace no
less than seventeen principal ports includ-
ing Liverpool and London. The owners or
charterers OF vessels have likewise to enter
into bonds, mainly relating, however. to the
freedom Of their ships from contact with
the cattle of suspected countries. We may
add that tho animals once landed and de-
livcred 10 the cUnsignees become, of course,
subject to Government Inspection
Now let Us look at the obvious bearing of
this order upon the cattle trade. The inn
mediate and inevitable effect will be to con
fine the supply Of the vast quantities of live
stock annually imported into England 10
very few purveyors, among which our own
country Is beyond comparison the greatest
producer According 10 the latest statistics
the number of horned cattle in tine countries
absolutely cut of from the British market
amounts to some fifty million head. while
the number of sheep approaches eighty
millions. Turning to those States ON the
western European seaboard. We find that
their exports Of live stock TO England. here
tofOre 50 large, are to be burdened by re-
strictions almost tantamount TO prohibit
tions. This means a further curtalment in
the sources Of supply by at least forty mil
lion head Of cattle and sixty million sheep.
In the field OF live stock production, what
proportion then is still left open to the
British consumer? The aggregate amount
of neat cattle at present eXtant In the three
Scandinavian States and the whole Iberlan
peninsula does not exceed ten million head.
although the number of sheep. owing Ia the
large Woodworking capacity OF Spain.
may be set down at thirty millions.
On the other hand. data are wanting for an
exact estimate of the live stock now exist
ing IN the United States, but we know that
In the year 1877 the number of mich cows
alone was upward Of eleven and quarter
millions. That would give, if We accep,
merely the average ratio observed in other
countries, at least twenty millions more for
other neat cattle. Indeed. the yearly re-
ceipts of live stock at only four OF our sea-
board cities are nearly equal to the whole
number Of cattle, excluding cows, at present
existing in Great Britain. These figures
speak Tor themselves and demonstrate the
advantages offered to the Amer
lean cattle trade by the order in question
This is one of those openings, however, OF
which producers will do well to avail them
selves with promptitude. No doubt the
farmers Of Great Britain will share the
profits arising from the contracted offers of
butchers meat, and they Will have cause To
DO content with the zeal for the exclusion Of
disease to which these restrictions testify.
But too marked rise in the price Of meat
would in the end provoke protest on the
part OF consumers and perhaps Il demand !
for the admission Of German, Dutch, Bel |
glan, and French cattle on the same easy |
Terms and guarantees as those relating 10 |
live stock forwarded from tho United States.
A Boston Symposium.
The wise men Of Boston enjoy nothing SO
much as getting together and expressing
heir views on things in general. one VI the