232 



REPORT OF THP] COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTORE. 



country at prices, on tlie whole, rather lower than the cost of production. 

 Tliis esport was checked by an unfortunate speculative excitement, 

 arisrng' about the middle of January. The center of this speculative 

 movement was Chicago, where it lasted about three weeks. It was fol- 

 lowed by a steady decline from tlie exaggerated figures reached, and the 

 reaction carried i)rices at the close of the season below the average 

 cost of the season. 



Numbers packed. — The following table shows the number of hogs packed 

 during each of the last five winter packing seasons in the States of the 

 West and Isorthwest : 



'Incudiug Pittsburgh, and a few points ia the S outhem States. 



The States bordering on the Ohio River show a decline from the pro- 

 duction of the previous season, but all the others have increased their 

 aggregates. The States west of the Mississippi lliver and Tennessee 

 show a marked increase, a fact which indicates the future diffusion of 

 the hog-raising business and an increasing percentage of the annual pro- 

 duction in the far West and the South. This branch of farm produc- 

 tion will in such case only show the same tendencies as the wheat crop, 

 which is annually shifting its center westward while extending itself in 

 the South. 



Average net iceight. — The average weights per head of the hogs packed 

 during the last five seasons were as follows : 



The average weight of 187G-'77 was 215.08 pounds, or 1.73 pounds less 

 than in the previous season. The general average of the last twelve 



