AUSTRALIAN PRESERVED MEAT.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 363, 12 April 1871, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN PRESERVED MEAT.

The trade in preserved meat, although scarcely out of its infancy, is assuming considerable proportions. At the close of the year 1866, after repeated experiments, the first satisfactory shipment of Australian tinned meat arrived in this country. The following table shows the rate of growth in the three following years : — 1860. 1867. 1868. 1869. Quantities imported, cwts 91 6721 16,337 28,306 'Value £321 £18,820 £45,746 £80,385 The exact extent of the importations for 1870 cannot be ascertained, but there is reason to believe that they amount in value to upwards of £200,000. In the month of December alone, 14,368 cases of from 1 cwt. to 2 cwt. each, arrived in London. About three-fourths of the shipments consist of mutton^ the remaining fourth ot beef. The Melbourne Meat Preserving Company, of the Saltwater River, who commenced operations very soon after the practicability of preserving j»eai had been demonstrated to the colonists, now send more than half of the entire supply, and this company still occupies^ the first place as regards the quality of its provisions. Kamornie, Ballarat, Echuca, Adelaide, and other districts, have also manufactories in operation. The noteworthy features in the mode ot preparation of these tinned meats, are :— Ist. Their perfect purity * there is nothing but the meat in the tins. 2nd. The preservation of the whole of the nourishing properties of the meat. On opening the tins the meat is found to be covered with a rich gravy or jelly, very sightly and palatable, so that 'the over-cooking, which is an inevitable result of this mode of preserving, is in a great measure compensated. There can be no question that as soon as the peculiar English prejudices on the question of food are removed, these meats will be a favorite article of diet, in the same way as tinned lobsters, so recently brought into favor, which are now found in almost every grocer's shop in the kingdom. There are, however, indications that the supply is increasing in a greater ratio than the home demand, and although at present sales are readily effected, when the present war is over and the trade resumes its ordinary channels, it is probable ther6 may be a difficulty in disposing of the quantity which will reach this market. The colonial meat companies should take this seriously to heart. The vigorous attempts which have been made to introduce salted meat packed in fat have met with very small success. Meanwhile, any efforts to place the surplus food of Australia in the midst of a popalation which certainly needs every aid that can be extended to it in the way of fresh supplies of the necessities of life, must be heartily welcomed.— Morgan's Trade Journal.