On the by-products of the meat industry, hides have been the most important. In 1913, the total exports were 35,075 metric tons (2,204.6 pounds), of which the United States received 1,122, Germany, 9,823, France, 9,892 and Great Britain, 1,585; for 1914, the total was 31,434 metric tons, of which the United States received 5,617, Germany, 8,964, France 5,432 and Great Britain, 1,845; for 1915, the total was 37,080 metric tons, of which the United States received 19,796, Germany, none, France, 2,701 and Great Britain, 3,386—the exports of the United States approximating 54 per cent of the total. In addition, the exports of sheep and goat skins for the years 1913-14-15 amounted to 3,232, 2,487 and 4,573 metric tons respectively, the United States buying from 75 per cent of the total in 1913 to 98 per cent in 1915.
Chile.— Chile, with her mineral and chem ical industries and shortage of grazing lands, has been unable to produce sufficient beef for her own consumption. In 1914, animal products to the amount of $4,500,000 were imported. The number of horned cattle in the country in 1915, according to the official estimate, was 2,083,997. Besides, there are about 4,600,000 sheep and 221,000 hogs in • the country. With the opening up for settlement of the six south erly states of Chile for agriculture and stock raising, there is a probability of the country excelling in the packing and export of meats, particularly and sheep products. The great centre for livestock production extends southward from Llanquihue to Cape Horn, the commercial centre being Punta Arenas, on the continent side of the Strait of Magellan. A city of 17,000 inhabitants, it has grown up dur ing the past decade as the packing centre of Chile and Argentine Patagonia. In 1914, the shipment of animal produdts, chiefly to Europe, amounted to $5,405,120i in 1915, $6,853,229. Although Punta Arenas is in Chilian territory, there is no indication in the statistics of the country as to what part of these exports is to be credited to the nation, and in fact a great proportion should be credited to Argentina. The cattle and sheep and packing interests in and around the city of Punta Arenas represent a capitalization of approximately $8,000,000.
Colombia— Columbia has thousands of acres of fine grazing lands open the year around, principally in the Magdalena and Sinn valleys, on the Pacific highlands and the Carib bean coast. The number of cattle is estimated at 5,000,000— 1 per capita. Locally, the cattle industry is of importance for the domestic sup ply of meat afforded, and for the quantity of hides exported. Some few cattle are sold
abroad. In 1914, 400 head of beef steers were shipped to Panama; in 1915 the number was 850, increasing in 1916 to an estimated 1,000 per month. During the same year (1915) 41, 255 head of cattle were shipped to the United States, which fact vouches for their sanitary excellence, in striking contrast to former con dictions that kept Colombian livestock off the United States and Cuban markets. Lately the government has taken strong measures to as sist the cattle industry, one being the law of 1915 providing fqr the establishment of pack ing plants on the Atlantic Coast, the products of which may only be exported, under govern ment inspection and supervision. In March 1917, announcement was made of the govern ment contract with Evaristo Rivas Groot for the erection of a plant on the Gulf of Morros quillo. The shipment of hides is an important source of income, those sent abroad in 1912 amounting to $2,661,721.50; 1913, $3,180,781.68, of which the United States received $1,024,955 (1912) and $966,759 (1913). The exports of hides to the United States in 1914 were $1,042, 174; in 1915, $1,904,558; and in 1917, $1,639,167.
Costa Costa Rica had, in 1905, 304, 662 head of cattle, and 79,730 hogs; 1910, 333, 417 head of cattle, and 69,712 head of hogs; and 1915, 347,475 head of cattle, and 76,198 head of hogs — .845 head of cattle per capita, and 18.54 per square mile. According to the report of the United States consul, Costa Rica offers -rich possibilities for the cattle industry, there being large tracts of suitable grazing land procurable in fee at from $0.50 to $1 per acre, or on lease for about one-tenth of these sums. In addition, cattle are easily moved, no great dis tances having to be traveled, and the climate being favorable, no shelter is required. The most available cattle lands are situated in the provinces of Alajuela, Cartago and Guanacaste. The present stock of cattle consists of the native breeds crossed with the Holstein, Guernsey and Durham. There is no refrigerating packing house in the country, but a considerable number of cattle on the hoof are shipped to the Canal Zone. The number of cattle slaughtered in 1905 was 34,081; 1910, 48,371; and 1915, 50,111. From these, hides were expored in 1905 to the value of $108,810; 1910, $125,419; and 1915, $160,124. Exports of cattle and calf hides to the United States amounted in 1911 to $63,853; 1912, $39,392; 1913, $49,906; 1914, $50,634; 1915, $87,749, and 1917, 308,275.