92 



Statistics oj' Live Stock and Dead Meat 



been greatly on the increase ; and that in the six months, about 

 100,000 tons of meat came to hand from various Continental 

 ports. The dead-markets have, therefore, been fully supplied, 

 and the upward movement in the value of live stock has been 

 checked. Nevertheless, meat, with the exception of pork, is a 

 dear commodity, and likely to continue so for several months. 

 The average value of inferior beasts was 3s. &d. per 8 lbs., against 

 3s. 2d. in the same time in 1865. Middling stock sold at an 

 average of 4s. 8fZ., or 2d. higher than in the previous years; but 

 the value of prime meat — 5s. — was unaltered. The improved 

 weight and quality of the beasts brought forward account for the 

 slight rise in the price of inferior animals. The moderate im- 

 portations of foreign-cured provisions have failed to have much 

 influence upon the value of live stock in this country. 



Supplies of sheep have been unusually small — viz., 708,620 

 head, including the animals from abroad, against 890,160 head 

 in the corresponding period in 1865, and 769,814 in 1864. 

 Notwithstanding that most breeds appeared in good condition 

 and of full average weight, the best Downs and half-breds were 

 in good request. Long-woolled sheep were steady in value. At 

 one period the best Downs Avere worth as much as 6s. ^^d. 

 per 8 lbs. 



Calves came slowly to hand, the total number not exceeding 

 12,291 head ; prices have consequently been high both for 

 English and foreign, the latter of which have formed the bulk of 

 the supplies. 



The total numbers of stock exhibited in the six months were : — 



Head. 



Beasts 148,320 



Sheep 708,620 



Calves 12,2<)1 



Pigs 17,480 



In the six previous seasons, these were : — 



Total Supplies of Stock exldhited. 



The supplies of pigs sent to this market fell off in 1866, 

 although the number in England rapidly increased. The enor- 

 mous quantities of pork disposed of in Newgate and Leadenhall 



