The Supply of Meat to Large Towns. 441 



whence they would be transferred to London per railway. In 

 that case, the carcases of the foreign beasts, sheep, lambs, and 

 pigs, though far inferior in quality to our best breeds, would 

 have an undue advantage over our own country-killed meat, 

 simply because they would make their appearance in the 

 butchers' shops in a more saleable condition. Those who are 

 not practically acquainted with the general bearings of the trade 

 may feel disposed to doubt these assertions ; but it is a fact that 

 both beef and mutton killed in Scotland, Yorkshire, &.C., in- 

 variably produces 2d. per 81bs. less money in the metropolis than 

 meat of a similar quality slaughtered in London. The difference, 

 in other words, amounts to about 20^. per carcase for beef, and 

 25. for mutton. 



But, it may be asked, if the advantages attendant on the 

 transmission of live animals rather than dead meat are great, 

 how is it that so much dead meat is forwarded from time to time 

 to Newgate and Leadenhall ? This question is easily disposed 

 of. At certain periods of the year the fleece can be much better 

 disposed of in the country than in London — say, by from 2c?. 

 to od. per lb. This difference naturally induces the flock-masters 

 to commence shearing early in spring, before the shorn sheep 

 can well travel to market. They have very little difficulty in 

 selling their wool for cash, except during periods of commercial 

 depression ; and for special qualities very high rates have fre- 

 quently been realised. Rough fat, too, at times sells well in 

 the country, from its being required by local tallow-melters. 

 These advantages as to price, however, are of a temporary 

 character, and, with the exception of wool, country prices are, as 

 a v/hole, lower than those in London in the general run of years. 

 Hence hides, skin, and fat would be forwarded to the metropolis 

 at a heavy cost to the owners, who, in addition, would have to 

 pay commission on sales. We will leave out of the question 

 the lower portions of the animals, such as head, heart, fat, &:c., 

 because they must of necessity be consumed on the spot, and 

 because they would barely pay the cost of carriage and com- 

 mission. 



But let us see the wide difference between the cost of sending 

 live animals and dead meat to London from a distance. A 

 bullock can be transmitted per railway and steamboat over 200 

 miles for 205. ; to that sum must be added about 4s. (kZ. for com- 

 mission and charges. To transmit four quarters of beef, the 

 hide, and rough fat to the metropolis, the same distance — assuming 

 that the animal weighed about 100 stones — would cost nearly 

 4/., exclusive of the expenses of slaughtering and the payment 

 for commission, viz.. Id. per 8 lbs. No doubt agents would be 

 despatched to the provinces by some of the large London houses 



