PORK TRADE ON THE CONTINENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13738, 20 May 1910, Page 5

PORK TRADE ON THE CONTINENT.

A letter from a Hamburg correspondent of an American firm contains some interesting information concerning the pork and lard trade on the Continent. The commercial understanding between the "United States and Germany, arrived at in February last, has not changed the situation for American pork packers' products. Bacon and pork from the United States will be allowed into Germany without "microscopic" certificate, as soon as an official request is mado for such permission, but even if no duty on pork existed in Germany the margin between American md German prices is so small that it would hardly bo possible to export it profitably. Europe, says the writer, will go in for raising more pigs. The protectionists on the Continent claim that farmers in the respective countries must raise tho necessary number of pigs to feed the population, and this can only be done by the exclusion of competition. This lias been done in consuming countries like Germany and Italy, and tho result is seen at present. Countries less dense and principally with an agricultural population liko

Denmark, have to look to foreign markets, and therefor? follow another policy. In regard to the high meat prices in America, the writer gives his opinion that prices would be still higher it tho big packing houses did not exist. The scientific way of using the bve--3 rodncts permits of the selling ot the dressed meat at cost price, which the old style of slaughtering places could not do. Wo have an instance of this in llu> case of our freezing work*. The Inch price of lard is resulting in sunstitutes and vegetable tats taking its plare. China is sending lard to Holland, where it is refined, mixed with fresh, and thou shipped to Germany, The writer does not know what is done with Unite I States fat, marked '•inedible" on tho casks, which also goes to Holland. Denmark is preparing :•. new law which only permits the importation ot meat if .'•ceomnanied hy a health certificate. Packing-house product* with the word "inedible" will undrr this law be prevented from being brought into Denmark for food purposes. In Germany the authorities take no re{.•Jid whatever of certificates of foreign meat inspection. Everything must be inspected when brought to the Gorman Custom and il found good may pass, even if tiie country of origin has not found such goods fit for human food and lias stamped the packages as "inedible."' This is scarcely credible. 1-ut it. comes from a German source, and must therefore bo correct.