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36 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1876. then of their imports, the two together giving the measure of the world. Expressed in millions of pounds’ weight we find,— 1875. 1876. The home-production of Europe and North America . 830 798 The imports into North America .... 619 419 1449 1217 1449 million pounds then represent the whole supply; and of this total about 57 P er cent, were of European and North American home- growth, and about 43 per cent, imported. Apportioning this huge quantity, we find that no less than 351 million pounds, or very nearly a quarter of the whole, fall to the share of the British industry alone; the rest of Europe takes 844 million pounds, or 58 per cent.; North America, 254 million pounds, or 17^ per cent. In 1866, the total consumption of raw wool was 1217 million against 1449 million pounds in 1875, and the average annual increase was consequently about 2 per cent. Of this about 1 per cent, was directly owing to the increase of population, which in Europe and North America rose from 321 to 347 millions in the stated period, the remaining 1 per cent, being due to the employment of wool for new purposes, and to the spread of comfort and wealth generally. Calculated per head of population, the consumption of raw wool, in 1875, was 4^ pounds, or, taking the wool in its cleaned state, 2^7 pounds. “ It need not be said that all these figures pretend to no accuracy, but are open to correction; all they lay claim to is this, that, wherever possible, they are based upon the latest authentic returns, and that where such basis was wanting, the estimates have been made with care and with a full consideration of all points involved.” ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF SHEEP IN THE WORLD. Year of Return. No. of Sheep. United Kingdom 1876 32,252,579 Russia 48,132,000 Sweden 1.695.434 Norway 1865 1.705.394 Denmark . 1,842,481 Iceland 800,000 Germany . 1873 24,999,406 Austria 20,103,395 Switzerland 1866 447,001 Holland . 1S73 901,515 Belgium . 1866 586,097 France . 24,589,647 Italy . 1874 6,977,104