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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5191, 11 April 1888, Page 2

The Christchurch Press has been dipping into the annual sheep returns for the year ending May last. These returns have only been recently published, and in fact have not yet reached us. We aro therefore glad to make use of our contemporary's digest of figures. For the first time for several years they show a decrease, the total number being 15,165,626, as compared with 15,174,263 for 1886, a falling off of 13,637. For tho three preceding years, it is pointed out, the average annual increase has been 600,000. Tho reduction has taken place in the South Island, where the numbers have decreased by 239,215, while there has actually beeu an increase in the North Island of 220,578. In Canterbury the reduction has been over 300,000 sheep. As showing the rapid increase of sheep in the North Island, it may be stated that in 1884 thero were 9,206,949 sheep in the South, 4,771,571 in tho North. In ISB7 there were 9,044,141 sheep in the South, and 5,506,485 in the North. In May lust there wero 6,634,281 merino sheep, 6,906,184 crossbred sheep, and 1,555,161 long wool sheep in the colony. It is noticeable, says tho "New Zealand Trado-Review," that the concurrent increase in tho number of crossbred sheep and decrease in those of merinos still continue. " The relative proportions of the two classes are now reversed, tho crossbreds outnumbering the merinos. As it is well-known the former are tho more profitable for the purposes of butchering, freezing, and boiling down." Another interesting fact brought out by the returns published in the "Review is the very rapid growth of the freezing, tinning, and boiling-down industries. In 1883-4 the number of sheep frozen, tinned, or boiled down was 394,145 ; in ISB4-5 643,762; in 1885-G. 740,985; while in 18S6-7 the numbers were 1,119,323.