P.C. Average, Average, Inc. 1912-13. 1916-17. or Dec. Live cattle, number 832,000 889,000 +6.9 Live sheep, number 639,000 700,000 +9.5 Live pigs, number 233,000 239,000 +2.6 Butter, tons 37,000 36,000 -4.0 Eggs, tons 56,000 69,000 +23.2 Poultry, tons 15,000 14,500 -3.3 Bacon and hams, tons 61,000 54,000 -11.5 Oats, tons 67,000 85,000 +26.9 Potatoes, tons 150,000 173,000 +15.3 Biscuits, tons 17,000 21,000 +23.5 Yeast, tons 7,000 11,000 +57.1 Cond. milk, tons 13,000 12,000 -7.7 The following shows the quantities of foodstuffs, as nearly as possible, imported from foreign countries and British possessions, and is the latest we could obtain: ------Average.------- P.C. 1912-13. 1916. Inc. Tons. Tons. or Dec. Beef, fresh 423,000 353,000 -16.5 Mutton 256,000 182,000 -28.9 Pork 20,000 15,000 -25.0 Meat, preserved (mostly tinned beef) 44,000 94,000 +113.6 Butter 201,000 107,000 -46.8 Eggs 180,000 51,000 -71.7 Bacon and hams 252,000 407,000 +61.5 Potatoes 373,000 85,000 -77.2 Condensed milk 57,000 65,000 +14.0 Margarine 68,000 130,000 +91.2 Wheat 5,003,000 4,620,000 -7.6 Barley 310,000 256,000 -17.4 Oats 890,000 617,000 -30.7 Rice 204,000 425,000 +108.3 Maize 1,614,000 1,198,000 -25.8 It must be remembered that Ireland has now no foreign imports, and has to feed herself as well as help Great Britain. She consumes only one-fourth of her own cattle, and with only 10 per cent. of the population supplies 40 per cent. of the cattle and 30 per cent. of the pigs of the United Kingdom, despite shortage of imported cattle cakes, &c., formerly obtainable. Ireland also, by her position with regard to Great Britain, minimizes loss by U-boats, and by her proximity also makes more trips possible, and consequently more cargoes landed in a short time than is possible by any foreign nation or British possession.