The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-10-03
LoNDON'S FOOD SUPPLY.
The Daily Task of Feeding Five Million
People.

metropolis no fewer than 5000, 600 hui
man beings each of whom has every
day to he provided with food. To set
forth fully the particulars on this
point would be impossible. and we
shall only glance at one or two of the
staple supplies, respecting which we
have been able to secure something
like relia BILE information. In spite of
the growth of vegetarianism in recent
years, the vast majority of the resi-
dents in these islands still believe in
the roast beef of old England In
London this is especially the case; and
when you come to think how many of
| the millions of this vast metropolis
eat meat at least once day, some idea
may be formed of the extraordinary
resources that must exist to meet the
demand. These resources are to
large extent beyond the sea. Not only
does London itself not furnish any of
the cattle killed for consumption. but
those sent from the provinces and from
Scotland and Ireland only go to form
fraction of the meat consumed in Lon
don, The larger proportion comes
from the United States, Canada, the
River Platte, New Zealand and Aus
tralia--either dead or as live cattle
The latter are landed at Deptford and
at Birkenhead, at which places they
are killed
Live cattle from abroad, intended for
the London meat market, are, as we
have said, landed at Birkenhead and
Deptford. Practically, all the cattle
arriving at Deptford are from the
United States and Canada; none from
European ports are admitted at the
present time. There is splendid ac-
commodation for the largest steamers
at the Deptford jetties, and last year
4S6 of them discharged cattle there,
being an increase of 1926 as compared
with the previous year. The total
number of animals landed at Deptford
last year was 231 G45--l74. S43 being
beasts, and g., s02 sheep. Immediately
] on arrival. the cattle are examined by
! the government inspector to see that
they are free from disease, then they
are run into sheds, where they remain
till their time of pole-aXing comes. No
animal is allowed to leave Deptford
alive; slaughter houses exist here, not
in twos and threes. but in whole
streets-and all the meat is. of course,
sent to London.
| Another of the feeders Of SmithfeId
/ meat market is the Metropolitan cat
/ tie market at Holloway. The cattle
disposed of here come from all quar-
tiers of England, Scotland and Ireland.
There are at present, and have been
/ for some time, orders of the board OF
agriculture in force prohibiting cattle
! from Canada. the United States and
all continental countries. but last year
toll was received on 4O,s2 Canadian
and II, 29s United States sheep. The
total number of animals entering
Holloway market last year was:
Beasts, 104, 1913: sheep, 90, 43G; calves,
5,2O7, and pigs, 597. The very small
number of pigs is accounted for by the
fact that the pig market was closed
for the greater portion of the year
owing to the prevalence of swine
| fever.
If London had to depend for its meat
! supply solely upon the number Of live
cattle that arrive, its wants ,.ould be
but inadequately met. OF late years
there has sprung up an extraordinary
| trade in frozen and chilled meats. So
far as beef is concerned, America. of
course, leads the way, and some idea
Of the steady growth of this trade, and
the proportion which the supplies of
/ American refrigerated beef-which
is simply chilled, not frozen as is gen.
orally supposed bears to the total of
supplies of meat of all descriptions
which comes into the central meat
market, may be CLEANED from "a state
ment made by the chairman of the.
| Hammond company. In 1887 the pro-
portion was only per cent; ten years
| later it was 9 per cent: and last wear
the proportion was 20 per cent. THIS
this means that one joint of beef out
of every three consumed in London
| and immediate district is American re-
| frigerated beef The quantity of this
beef sold in the central meat market
for eight months to the end of August
asst year, exceeded that sold during
| the corresponding period of the pre-
vious year by ALB, 920 pounds. But
! beef is only one thing. The importa-
I tons of frozen mutton and lamb dur
/ ing 1894 show the highest aggregates
vet reported from New Zealand, Aus
sralia and the River Platte. and these
classes of meat seem to be steadily in
| creasing in public favor, as they well
1 deserve to 60.
Then there is Leadenhall market.
No statistics as to the quantity dis.
/ posed of at this market are available,
but of meat alone it is very consider
able and to this haye to be added the
poultry and the game. Of poultry, W.
j. Gordon, in his interesting book on
How London Lives" SAYS the Great
Eastern company alone brings to the
metropolis over 5000 tons per annum
Game also arrives in very large guam
titles and some years ago. according to
the same authority, a well-known
salesman estimated that there were
shipped from Leadenhall alone in
twelve months:
Grouse ....... 100 600 Widgeon go. .... 20 600
PartridgeS ...... 125 G0G, Tsal........... 30 600
Pheasants. ...... Lo00JI Wild duck ......l5O 600
Snipe ............ $1,000 small wild birds so 900
Irish plover $50 0J0l Larks 400 900
Egyptian quail. 10000