§ COLONEL E. T. D. COTTON-JODRELL (Cheshire, Wirral)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that, owing to unsuitable ships and bad fittings and ventilation, the mortality which took place amongst cattle and sheep in the trade between South America and the home ports in 1897 amounted to 97 per 1,000 amongst cattle shipped and to 37 per 1,000 amongst sheep; and, whether, seeing this number, even allowing for the increased length of the voyage, is in excess of the loss between North America and this country, where the numbers for the same period were 2.3 and 7 per 1,000 respectively, he can suggest and apply mitigation of these evils as far as possible?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H. LONG,) Liverpool, West DerbyThe facts stated by my hon. Friend with respect to the mortality amongst cattle and sheep carried across the South and North Atlantic respectively are substantially correct. The conditions of the two trades, both 553 as regards the character of the cattle carried and the nature and duration of the voyage, are not identical, and too much weight must not, therefore, be attached to the comparison made in the Question, but there is no doubt in my mind that there is nevertheless considerable room for improvement as regards the South American trade, and we are taking steps which will, I hope, be attended with satisfactory results.