A HOPEFUL PROSPECT.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8222, 15 April 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

A HOPEFUL PROSPECT.

From the Oolohist April 4,

A recent experiment of shipping live sheep to London appears to bave proved particularly successful, for we are informed by cable that of 120 sheep sent Home on tbe steam" ship Buteshire only two died on the voyage. The very BmaH loss sustained warrants the belief that with proper provisions and management live sheep may be exported with profit. Notwithstanding all the efforts made with a view to putting an end to the unreasonable aversion tbat is shown in England to frozen meat, colonial exporters bave yet to remain content with a price far below what might fairly be looked for, and there seems to be no immediate prospect of overcoming the antipathy that exists. The successful ehipment by the Buteshire doeß, however, indioate a means by which the Colonial sheep farmer may enter the greatest markets of the world on better terms. With specially constructed steamers there is no reason j why a very considerable namber of shesp should not be conveyed to England in a I single bottom, and with sheep acoußtomed to feed on euoh fodder as would be available on ship board, say luoerne, oaten sheaves, mangles and turnips, there would, in the light of the recent experiment, be extremely small risk of loss, while the sheep on landing should fetoh as muoh bb tbe best Home prodaoed. The cost ot freight inolud* ing care and feeding, would no doubt'exceed that of frozen meat, but as the sheep would be sold as live sheep, there would no longer be the great depreciation which is due to the unreasonable prejudice against frozen meat, or the fraud that substitutes inferior carcases for prime New Zeaiand mutton, and it is pretty certain that the producer would derive considerable gain, while the consumer would contribute much more, chiefly for the gratification of sentiment' The gain would of coarse be in favor of tbe Oolonies, and though in some respects tbe landing of shipmeuts of live sbeep in England might be less advantageous tban the landing cf frozen meat, whioh fray be kept for a period and requires no feed, oonsiderable shipments would no doubt find ready consumption at good prioes. There seems no reason why euitable steamships, economically worked, ahould not carry considerable numbers of live sbeep to England, to the advantage of the Colonial sheep farmer, and there ia no doubt that a permanent trade of tbis bind would prove highly beneficial to the Colony, though it is to be be feared that the British farmer would thereby sustain a further blow.