200 Animal and Animal Products Trades 



the 1670 statute.^ Under Anne the butcher was further restrained 

 by being forbidden to sell in any market within ten miles of London 

 to another butcher any fat cattle or sheep, either dead or alive," but 

 calves, sheep, and lambs dead were excepted from this prohibition 

 by act of Parliament two years later.^ The purpose of this legisla- 

 tion was to prevent, as was said, "a pernicious Practice, now in Use, 

 for one Butcher to buy a greater Quantity of fat Cattle and Sheep 

 than he can vend, unless by selling them again to other Butchers, 

 which reduces the number of Buyers in Smithfield, and may be a very 

 great inconvenience both to the Graziers and Housekeepers, by sub- 

 jecting them both — to such Price as they shall think fit to give or 

 demand." From which it appears that the carcass butcher was 

 viewed in an invidious light because he bought in large volume and 

 because he had uncommon power at making market prices. All this 

 legislation failed primarily because it sought to eradicate a very 

 useful agent in the meat business. The wholesaler of meats was 

 probably more necessary than the wholesaler of more durable goods: 

 expedition and dispatch were prime essentials in the distribution of 

 the carcass. The cutting butcher needed a source from which he 

 could buy at short notice what his customers required; this source was 

 the carcass butcher. He, by having a large wholesale custom, could 

 equally serve his retailer customers and at the same time reduce the 

 risk of having meats spoil on his hands. He saved the cutting butcher 

 from the necessity, but without removing the possibility, of doing 

 his own buying and slaughtering. 



CUTTING BUTCHER. 



The cutting butchers were the retailers of meat in London and 

 N'icinity. They procured their supplies from the carcass butchers or 

 purchased and slaughtered for themselves. The greatest part of the 

 business was done at the stalls in the public markets like Leadenhall . 

 Fleet Market, etc* These stalls were eight, ten, or twelve feet long, 

 and four, five or six feet broad, with racks, blocks, hooks, and all other 

 conveniences for the sale of their meat, and were sheltered from the 

 weather by roofs or by the ware houses above them; walks led 

 between the rows of stalls. Fees were charged for the stalls, stand- 



1 22 and 23 Chas. II, Cap. 19. 



- 5 Anne, Cap. 34. 



' 7 Anne, Cap. 6. 



*See descriptions of these markets as given in ISIaitland, II, 989, 1002-3. 



