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The Hung Hom Slaughter House will continue to be leased for the present and also the slaughter- ing of animals in the various villages.
The total number of animals slaughtered at Kennedy Town, Hung Hom, Shaukiwan and Aber- deen during the year was as follows:-
District of Slaughter House.
Kennedy Town,..
· Hung Hom,
Shaukiwan,..
Aberdeen,
Total,....
Cattle.
Sheep and Goats.
Swine.
19,250
15,973
142,806
5.688
2,571
21,346
3,842
4,211
24,938
18,544
172,205
The following table shows the number of animals slaughtered during the past ten years :-
1892,
1893,.
1894,
1895,
1896,
1897.
1898,
·
1899,
1900,
1901,...
Year.
Cattle.
Sheep and Goats.
Swine.
18,180
11,571
126,766
17,866
11,770
131,298
16,898
10,937
125,725
19,218
12,592
129,035
19,546
14,693
129,103
20,094
14,226
137,748
21,541
15,956
153,485
23,582
17,353
156,292
23,939
18,364
165,760
24,938
18,544
172,205
DAIRIES AND CATTLE SHEDS.
Early in March an outbreak of Rinderpest occurred in one of the sheds belonging to the Dairy Farm at Pokfulam, The shed contained thirty-three head of cattle and twenty-eight of them con- tracted the disease, of which fifteen died. Mr. LADDS reported that the general type of the disease was of a very mild character owing to the fact that he had inoculated the whole of the herd some time previously. The disease did not spread to the remainder of the herd, all of which were re-inoculated at this time as a protective measure, and the outbreak was at an end within three weeks.
In November a small outbreak of Foot-and-mouth disease occurred in the Wong-nei-cheong Dairy - Farm;
there were twenty-three cows and three calves on the farm, and twelve cows and one calf contracted the disease; the calf died from the disease and one cow died of injuries contracted by breaking loose when convalescent.
With the exception of these small outbreaks, nothing of importance occurred in any of the dairy farms of the Colony during the year. The farms and cattle sheds have been regularly inspected by the Inspector of Markets and have been found to be kept in a clean and airy condition and in accordanc with the Bye-laws.
MARKETS.
Central Market.-The lighting of this market was considerably improved by an increase in the height of the windows and by the re-arrangement of the electric light pendants, and may now be regarded as satisfactory so long as the place is kept regularly painted and lime-washed, as this latter is a most important factor in the lighting of such a building.
Western Market.—A start has been made in the matter of the erection of a new Western Market on the Reclamation in front of the Harbour Office and as soon as the building is complete I hope that we shall see the present market, which is not in a sanitary condition, and can hardly be made so, swept away and the space utilized in part for the improvement of the sanitary condition of the neigh- bourhood.
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