for Consumption in the Metropolis. 



175 



of 6c?. per 8 lbs. Sheep were the turn clearer. Lambs sold at 

 from 5^. &d. to 85. ; calves, As. to 5^. lOd. ; and pigs, 3;?. 6f/. to 

 55. per 8 lbs., to sink the offal. The following selection from 

 the six months' averages will illustrate the recent rise in prices : — 



Average Prices of Beef and Mutton. 



Per 8 lbs., to sink the Offal. 

 Beef. 



Inferior 



Middling 



Prime 



Mutton'. 



Inferior 



Middling 



Prime 



1860. 1861. 1862. 1863. 1864 



s. d. 



3 2 



4 6 



5 10 



s. c?. 



3 2 



4 6 



5 8 



s. d 



3 8 



4 8 



5 6 



s. d. 



4 



5 

 5 10 



s. d. 



4 2 



5 2 

 5 10 



Although the supply of rough fat has been very moderate, the 

 demand for it has been heavy at 2s. l\d, and 2s. Id. per 8 lbs. 

 The great falling off in the exports of tallow from St. Petersburg, 

 as well as from Australia, the Cape, &c., has had very little 

 influence upon the value of fat. That article has consequently 

 ceased to be of much profit to the butchers. 



Fair average supplies of meat have been on sale in Newgate 

 and Leadenhall Markets. Generally speaking, the trade has 

 ruled steady, at comparatively high rates. Beef has realised 

 2s. 10<:Z. to 5^. ; mutton, Si'. 6c?. to 5^. ; lamb, 5^. to Is. 4c?. ; 

 veal, 3^. 8f?. to 55. 4f/. ; pork, 35. Ad. to 55. per 8 lbs. by the 

 carcase. 



Letters from Holland and Germany state that unusually heavy 

 shipments of stock will be made to England in 1865. The 

 want of adequate supplies of food in both countries does not 

 favour the impression entertained in some quarters, that these 

 supplies will reach us in imjiroved condition. It may therefore 

 be safely assumed that we shall have high rates for both beasts 

 and sheep for several months. The few shorn sheep disposed of 

 in the metropolis have sold at Is. 2d. per 8 lbs. below those in 

 the wool. This wide difference must be attributed to the 

 scarcity of wool in the country, notwithstanding that the arrivals 



