236 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



During the last summer season the number of hogs packed was nearly 

 double that of the previous season. Summer-cured pork is received with 

 increasing fa\'or in both domestic and foreign markets. The summer of 

 1876 was one of general depression to holders of winter-cured i)ork, as 

 the large supply cf hogs, induced by the abundant supply of corn, 

 stimulated summer curing, the product of which suffered little or no 

 loss from shrinkage ; hence it could be sold at prices entailing a loss on 

 winter-cured pork. These facts rendered the increased aggregates of 

 the winter season of 187G-'77 still more remarkable, and showed the 

 existence of an increased demand for the winter product of the West. 

 The prospects for the summer season of 1877 are very fair, the supply of 

 hogs, from all indications, being about equal to what it was last summer. 

 Operators at various points since the close of the winter season of 

 1876-77 find the supplies somewhat in excess of last year. 



The average net weight of the hogs packed in the West during the 

 summer of 1876 was ] 84.03 pounds per head, against 177.32 pounds in 

 1875, and 164 pounds in 1874. Aggregate net weight, 421,738,051 pounds 

 in 1876, 223,845,720 ])ounds in 1875, and 196,872,810 pounds in 1874. 

 Average yield of lard, 30.36 pounds per head in 1876 and 29.25 pounds 

 in 1875. Aggregate vield of lard, 69,528,486 pounds in 1876 and 

 36,923,533 pounds in 1875. 



Suynmer and winter paclcing. — The results of the summer and winter 

 packing of the five years ending March 1, 1877, may be summarized as 

 follows : 



1872-'73. 

 lc!T:t-'74. 

 187J-'75. 

 1875-'76. 

 l876-'77. 



Seasons. 



Number packed. 



Summer. Winter, 



.503, COO 

 1, 0C2, 910 

 1,200, 4-14 

 1, i>63, M.i 

 -2, -291, tJlG 



.■), 410, 314 

 0, 400, 200 

 5, .*)C«. i':2C< 

 4, i-eo, 130 

 0, 07-2, ^39 



Total. 



5, 915, 814 

 0,529,110 

 0, 700, 070 

 C, 142, 478 

 7, :JC3, 955 



Aggregato net 

 ■weight. 



Pounds. 

 1,353,504,283 

 l,3C9,C-iO,599 

 l,rsC4,512,207 

 1,280,301,741 

 1,517, 285, 2ctJ 



Aggregate 

 ylold of 

 lord. 



Pounds. 

 2:)2, 212, 585 

 222, f.60, 195 

 221, SbO, 256 

 20;', g.'Jl, 900 

 242, 131, 910 



It will be seen that the production of the last year was the largest on 

 record in regard to the number of animals and their aggregate weight 

 and yield of lard. 



IN THE EAST. 



Annual receipts. — The receipts of bogs on the seaboard are to a small 

 extent for packing purposes, the larger portion being taken by butchers 

 for the supply of fresh meat. The packing business is rising to some 

 itnportiiuce in New York and Boston, but it is still on so small a scale 

 and so unsystematized that definite statistics casnot be obtained. The 

 number of live and dressed hogs received at four leading Atlantic cities 

 during the last three vears were as follows : • 



