212 EEPOET OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



oi:' New York. An increasing trade in dressed carcasses, ho\Yever, in 

 some measure compensates tbe decline. Prices ruled at $0.25 © $11.50 

 during the first four montbs of the year, and subsequently fell to $G.5U 

 (a) $7.75 in October. The closing quotation of the year was $8 © $8.25. 



PHILADELPHIA. 



Tbe receipts ol; all kinds of farm-animals at rhiladclphia durijjg 1876 

 were in advance of tlie figures of 1875. This increased supi)ly was 

 doubtless caused in part by the increased demand for fresli meat created 

 by the great Centennial Exposition ; but the increased permanent pop- 

 ulation of the city and of its suburban towns requires a corresponding en- 

 largement of the supply of animal-food. The market was mostly one of 

 consumption ; comparatively few of the receipts were for transmission to 

 other markets. The facilitiesfor handlinglivestockatthispointhavebeen 

 greatly enhanced within a year or two. The West Philadelphia stock- 

 yards have been fitted up in a style of accommodation equal to any in the 

 country. Tlie North Philadelphia Stock-yard, on the line of the North 

 Pennsylvania Kailroad, was started during 187G, and before the j^ear 

 closed the sales had attained the figures of 1,000 head of cattle, 1,500 

 sheep, and 900 hogs per week. The supplies of western cattle were 

 larger than in 1875. Cattle from Texas were received in increased 

 numbers and of greatly improved quality. The number of beef-cattle 

 received was 178,000 head, against 141,000 head in 1875. Prices ruled 

 low throughout the year; prime beeves opened at $7.12^ ® $7.50 per 

 cental on the 1st day of January, and on the 1st day of December were 

 quoted at $6.12^ ® §6.50, the minimum, $5.75 © 86.25, being on th 3 1st 

 of October ; fair to good beeves opened at $5,50 ® $7 and closed at 

 $5.12^ fa) $(3, reaching as low as $4,621 © §5.50 on the 1st dry of Octo- 

 ber; common stock averaged about $3.50 © $5.50. The receipts of 

 cows were 12,750, against 11,830 in 1875 and 18,010 in 1874. Sheep 

 were in increased numbers, the receipts being 548,850 head, against 

 491,500 in 1875. Prices opened moderately and closed very low, rang- 

 ing from $4.50 © $8 per cental in January to $1 © $5.75 in November 

 and December. Of hogs, 289,900 were received during 1876, against 

 243,300 in 1875. Prices of these animals were also low, falling from $10 

 <a> $12 per cental in January to $7 <cb $8 in December, with a maximum 

 of $12.50 © $13.75 in April. 



The receipts of different kinds of farm-animals during thirteen years 

 were as follows : 



Tears. 



Beeves. 



Cows. 



Sheep. 



Swine. 



1864 

 186.'> 

 1806 

 1867 

 1868 

 1869 

 1870 

 1871 

 1872 



187:j 

 1874 

 1875 

 1876 



99, 

 06, 

 100, 

 90, 

 90, 



yj), 



117, 

 125, 

 i:i4, 

 165, 

 167, 

 141, 

 178, 



7, 920 

 6,540 



IC, 830 

 11,40} 



0, r>i4 



8,085 



8, eaj 



11,150 

 12,:30i! 

 18, 405 

 18,010 

 ii,8:iO 

 I'i, 750 



295, 000 

 306, 000 

 512, 000 



3fi8, 500 

 417, ^'00 

 530, 500 

 682, !»00 

 790, 21)0 

 749, 500 



756, 750 



757, 040 

 49),. 500 

 548, y50 



140, 400 

 IJU, 300 

 122, .500 

 175, 500 



501, noo 



176, 200 

 189,500 

 199, 610 

 210,376 

 ol4, 300 

 339, 590 

 243, 3;)0 

 289, 000 



The later years show a largo increase upon the earlier, though 1875 

 fell off from the very high figures of 1873 and 1874, in consequence of 

 the genera,! decline of trade resulting from the disastrous financial crisis 

 of 1873. The number of cattle in 1876 was greater than in any former 

 year J the number of cows greater than any other year except 1872 and 



