REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



223 



quarter 117,715, and the net increase of the first three quarters 36,568. 

 October opened with a steadiness of prices which it dicl not maintain. 

 A full supply at the first caused a fall of 25 to 30 cents per cental, but re- 

 ceipts began to fal4 ofi" and prices again rallied. In Xovember the winter 

 packing- season re-opened, but many packers had continued operating all 

 through the intervening months and their movements had a regulating 

 influence upon the houses that had suspended operations during the 

 summer. Prices for packing-hogs during the month ranged from 85.70 

 to $5.90. The trade of December was remarkable for steadiness, with a 

 strong teudencey to high prices toward the close, caused by a falling 

 off in the receipts. The arrivals increased 01,691 in October, 77,802 in 

 November, 71,825 in December ; during the fourth quarter, 241,318 ; 

 during the year, 277,886. 



The average gross weight per head of hogs received during the year 

 was 239 pounds, against 233f pounds in 1875, and 218 pounds in 1874. 

 The monthly average weights per head during the last five years were 

 as follows : 



Months. 



January 



February 



March 



April 



May 



Juue 



July 



August 



September 



October 



November 



December 



General averase 



2861 



2031 



227J 



225J 



223 



227i 



234 



233i 



257i 



2G4J 



272 



263i 



1673. 



2891 



2G9J- 



221i 



213 



2171 



230* 

 231 J 

 235J 

 241.6 



252i 

 2fi7i 

 270 J 



252J 



211J 



201J 



197f 



199f 



206.7 



297.9 



208i 



209^ 



2211 



244 



253.i 



218 



261 



251 



217 



206^ 



210 



218 



223 



222 



230 



239 



256i 



271 



233J 



1876. 



281 

 262 

 220 

 217 

 228 

 233 

 234 

 242 

 246 

 256 

 262 

 270 



Prom the above tables it appears that during the present decade the 

 largest annual receipt was in 1873, and the largest average weight per 

 head in 1872. The very great receipts of 1874, being of comparatively 

 light weight, did not yield a net product in proportion to their num- 

 bers. The largest amount of live pork marketed in any one year was 

 1,069,689,150 pounds, in 1873 ; the next largest aggregate, 991,411,434 

 pounds, was in 1876. The total value of the hogs packed in 1876 was 

 $48,974,000, an increase of $9,224,000 over 1875. 



Hog products. — Fork. — Receipts of 1876, 43,911 barrels; 1875, 58,270; 

 1874, 40,381; 1873, 43,758; 1872, 121,023. Shipments, 1876, 315,448 

 barrels; 1875,311,170; 1874, 233,764; 1873, 191,144; 1872, 208,664. 

 The city product of the winter packing-season of 1875-76 was 263,430 bar- 

 rels; l874-'75, 261,675; 1873-'74, 195,917; 1872-'73, 102,986 ; lS71-'72, 

 152,012; 1870-'71, 148,050; 1869-'70, 118,599. 



Summary. — The annual receipts of cattle, sheep, and swine during 

 eleven years were as follows : 



