FROZEN HARES FOR EXPORT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1152, 30 March 1894, Page 16

FROZEN HARES FOR EXPORT.

Writing from London on Februai-y 2nd, Mr S. Lowe, Government Expert, furnishes the Department of Agriculture with some valuable information in reference to the prospects of opening up a trade in frozen hares and poultry. FROZEN HARES. Upon the subject of frozen hares, he says:—At various times during the last few years there have arrived in London consignments of New Zealand hares, but the success has been so dubious tliat the business of forwarding regular consignments has hitherto been left in abeyance. Now, however, there is every probability that the experiment of placing frozen hares permanently on the English market is about to be carried out on genuine business lines. The success of the experiment is very problematical; but it has been carefully investigated, and every arrangement that may conduce to its success most thoughtfully carried out. It will never be a big business nor free from fluctuations of price, which may ultimately ruin it and i bring disaster upon those with whom it is I connected. Unlike frozen it is

strictly a season trade, and also dependent I largely for profit upon the uncertain eonI ditions of weather. This season Mr W. J. | Tonkin, of Tiinaru, has been over and made a very exhaustive enquiry as to the prospects for a regular trade, and he is by no means sanguine of its chances of success. lie has visited the principal towns of England, and on the spot investigated the local conditions and requirements. After a thorough toar of inspection he has made arrangements for next season to consign hares to one man only in each of the following provincial towns : Leicester, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Newcastle-©n-Tyne, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. Arrangements are also made with several London firms to take quantities at certain prices. For some years I have been looking into this matter, but have never seen an auspicious opening for a good trade. The cost attaching to the scheme, compared with the prices realisable for the hare, making it a very hazardous experiment. From careful enquiries, Ido not think it will be safe to calculate on obtaining more than 2s Gd to 3s per hare as an average price for the season, reckoning ono year with another.

THE POULTRY MARKET. The prospects for rabbits Mr Tonkin says are hopeless, but he thinks there is an opening- for a good business in fowls. In this the poulterers of the London markets agree with him. The fowls should arrive here as chickens during the months of March, April and May. It would be better still if they could reach us by the middle of February. Ducks may be included with equal chances of a good sale; but both these kinds of poultry will require to be properly dressed and then frozen. It is \iseless sending them in their feathers. They should be trussed beforo freezing and sent here in cases ready for roasting. If ordinary fowls, such as a cross between the . game * and dorking, were sent in good condition, they would realise from 4s to 6s a couple, according to qiiality, and ducks 5s to 7s.