Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-06-21

HOGS AND CATTLE 49,,
DISAPPEARING, MEAT FAMINE
THREATENING UNITED STATES

The announcement published In the
Starr Bulletin that c. @. zee Hop 4
Company, local butchers, had received
for the first time meat supplies from
the antipodes, comes on the heels OF
an unusually interesting statement is
sued by the federal department. of ag-
Ticulture, in which it is declaring that
the meat-producing animals Of the.
United States are steadily becoming
less and the country rapidly being
brought to face an era of meat short
age.
Predictions are made in this bulle-
tin that in the near future far greater
amounts of beef and mutton, will be
imported into the United States. and
declares that for. the first time in the
history Of the country the exports OF
animals and animal products of all
kinds in 1912 fell below the imports
in value.
That the statements made by the
department does not come WIDELY as
surprise may be taken from the
preparations of large butcher firms on.
the mainland, as well as here, to Inn
port slaughtered animals from New
Zealand and Australia. Probably for
the first time in its history San Fran.
cisco markets are filled with Austria
liam meats, which 1t has been found
can be shipped from the, antipodes and
sold in San Francisco at a cheaper
price than domestic meats.
For some time the Hawaii Meat
Company has received small shipments
of beef and mutton from Australia,
but that firm has been the only one,
up to the advent of G. @. Yee Hop in
the experiment, to import meats here,
most of which, it says, has been to I'LL
government contracts.
With better shipping facilities be-
tween the islands and New Zealand.
the importation of meats will prob
ably grow rapidly, especially with the
naturalization of new market plan
ned by a syndicate here.
Neat Prices on the Rise.
According to the statement of the
department the average prices for
meat animals on May 10 was about
lO.7 per cent higher than ION like
date a year ago and 27.7 per cent
higher than two years ago. On May
10 beef cattle per hundred bounds ay-
eraged SOL, veal calves. E17. sheep
4e91 Ind lambs $3.50. ,les
Z sFAe following is the. statement Of
the department In part: 81
| The shortage in the supply of meat
producing animals in the United
States is steadily beginning more pro-
noun9c1, and it>is 6fident that the
country is facing 1eraI of short nro-
ducfi0n of meat. ~ the last six years
ltheHe has been decline n over 30
per bent in the number Jsf/beef cattle
in theNcewntfy. @Aile thf population
and the consequent demand for near
have increased. According EST
mates of the department of Agriculture
the beef cattle in the country on Jan.
n, 1897, numbered 81 500, 900, and at the
beginning of the present year the
number was only 3e,030.000.
More than half of the meat produced
in the United States is slaughtered un-
der government inspection A de-
crease of over 13 per cent is shown in
the number of animals killed under
this inspection in the first three
months of this year as compared with
the same period of last year.
imports Exceed Exports.
" For tho first time in our history
the exports of animals and animal
products of all kinds in 1912 fell be.
''ow the Imports in value. The import
trade in hides and skins has assumed
enormous proportions, the total value
of the shipments in 1912 being con-
siderably over 500, 000, 600.
There was largely increased iHl-
portation Of cattle in 1912, the NUM-
Der being 325,717, as against 252A13 IN
1911, and z11, $50 in 1910. These ami
mails were nearly all brought over the
Mexican border for feeding purposes.
They help little, though not very
much, in our beef supply.
Unfortunately when prices of live
stock rule high, as was the case In
1910, there is natural tendency for
farmers to rush everything sa1able to
market, including immature animals
and, worst of all, breeding animals.
This inevitably brings about a future
shortage, and so the country suffers
from alternate periods Of comparative
etiiu iOdi SIilhoSLiC3t GnhilC piOuuCCid
often lose heavily through the insta-
bility of prices.
With our diminished production in
the face of the heavy demand and high
prices OF the home market, ne no
longer have a surplus for export, and
it is nc wonder that our export trade
in meat animals and products has de-
clined heavily. Our once great trade
with England in cattle and fresh beef
has disappeared, and the only consiti.
cradle items now shipped to foreign
markets are prepared hog products
such as bacon, hams, and lard Eng.
land is now drawing it's imported beef
supply mostly from Argentina, and its
supply of mutton and lamb from Aus
tralia and New Zealand as well as Ar.
gentina. The Australian colonies are
sheep rather than cattle countries