YEAR BOOK 75

THE ISLAND EGG CIRCLES

As a result of an investigation made by Mr. W. A. Brown, Chief of the Poultry Division of the Live Stock Branch, Depart- ment of Agriculture, Ottawa, of conditions of the Poultry In- dustry in Prince Edward Island in July, 1912, the Department, with the concurrence of the Provincial Department, appointed a resident representative whose duty it was to make further investi- gations and give expert advice regarding the production and marketing of eggs and poultry. Mr. T. A. Benson, the repre- sentative appointed, after devoting some time to making further investigations and delivering addresses in different parts of the province, commenced organization work, and the first Egg Circle was organized at Brooklyn, Lot 61, on March 18th, 1913. The first Egg Circle to ship Eggs, however, was the New London North Egg Circle, making its first shipment on May 10th, 1913.

Up to the end of 1913 eleven Egg Circles in all were organ- ized. From this time the growth of the movement may justly be described as phenomenal, and today there are no less than 62 Egg Circles in operation in this province. Up to the end of 1913 business amounting to $14,190.11 was done by the eleven Egg Circles which shipped, and since the Spring of 1914 up the to end of February, 1915, the value of shipments made by the Egg Circles amounts to about $230,000.

‘It soon became evident that the business of such a rapidly developing concern must be centralized ; and in March, 1914, a General Association was organized and incorporated by an Act of the Provincial Legislature, to which Association all the Egg Circles are afiiliated. This Central Association is designated The Prince Edward Island Co-Operative Egg and Poultry Association. The business has continued to develop, and is being perfected under the guidance of the Central Association and with the advice of the Dominion Poultry Representative.

The financing of the movement has received the careful con- sideration of the central body, in order that business may be placed on a sound and strong basis. The principles on which this move- ment is being conducted appear to be so just and sound, and the popularity which it has attained so great that there would appear to be little doubt that the Egg Circles have come to this province to stay and lead the way in the betterment of conditions under which our poultry industry is being conducted.

Egg Candling Stations were established at Charlottetown, Summerside, Montague, Kensington andYork. At these Stations the tarmers’ eggs were graded and candled, the object being to pay