BUREAU OF MARKETS. 459 



LIVE STOCK AND MEATS. 



Three series of reports are now issued on live stock and meats, 

 under the direction of Mr. L. D. Hall. All of them have been devel- 

 oped since the last annual report. Plans are under way for other 

 series. The first attention was given to collecting and distributing 

 information which appeared to be most lacking and in greatest 

 demand by the entire live stock and meat trade, namely, the current 

 supply and prices of dressed meats and meat products, and the 

 demand and other marketing conditions affecting their distribution. 

 Reports on two principal features of this class of information were 

 undertaken: First, the stocks of frozen and cured meats on hand in 

 wholesale packing establishments and public cold storages through- 

 out the United States, described later; and, second, market condi- 

 tions, including daily supplies and prices of fresh meats at the 

 principal consuming centers 



A preliminary study of the meat trade was made in Boston, New 

 York City, and Philadelphia w'ith the object of establishing contacts 

 with the wholesale, jobbing, and retail meat trade and acquiring 

 information relative to market facilities, demands, grades, prices, 

 conditions, and marketing methods prevailing at those points. Be- 

 fore formulating final plans for the work, prominent officials and 

 individuals representing various branches of the live stock and meat 

 industry were consulted as to the classes of information desired and 

 the most effective means and methods whereby to collect and dis- 

 tribute such information. 



DAILY REPORTS ON MEAT TRADE CONDITIONS. 



Permanent local offices for this work have been established in 

 Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Omaha, 

 Kansas City, Portland (Oreg.), and Fort Worth (Tex.). Represen- 

 tatives at the eastern cities gather daily from wholesale meat dealers 

 and from the jobbers and retailers who buy at the wholesale mar- 

 kets information relative to meat trade conditions, including de- 

 mand, supplies, and wholesale prices, and transmit reports by direct 

 leased wire to the office in Washington, where they are relayed by 

 leased and commercial wires to each of the western branch offices. 

 The first of these reports was issued on February 19, 1917, and by 

 September 15, 1917, approximately 1,700 copies of these reports wera 

 being distributed daily from each local office to members of th4 

 trade, trade papers, and other interested parties. All of the live 

 stock market papers at points where our bulletins are issued publish 

 them either entire or in part and make frequent references to them in 

 their market columns. Indications are that these reports have 

 tended materially to stabilize market conditions, have furnished a 

 more intelligible basis for live stock market quotations, and have 

 enabled the public to follow the relative margins between prices of 

 live stock and meat. 



Various terms now in use by the trade are not accepted uniformly 

 as having the same meaning in all markets. In connection with the 

 publication of daily reports on meat trade conditions, steps have 

 been taken toward the establishment of more uniform standards for 

 the classes and grades of meats and a more logical nomenclature for 



