KEPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



Ill 



Sheeihpelis. — The montlily rauge of prices of sheep-pelts duriug 1872 

 was as follows: January, $3.50 to $2.75; February, $2.50 to $3.50; 

 March, $3 to $3.50 ; April, $2.50 to $3.25 ; May, 82.o0 to $3 ; Juue, $2 



to $3; July, $2.25 to $2.55 ; August, ; September, ; October, 



$1 to $1.25; November, $1 to $1.40; December, $1.25 to $1.75. 



PORK-PACKING IN THE WEST. 



According to the record kept by the Cincinnati Plico Current, the 

 number of hogs packed during the twentv-two packing seasons prior to 

 the present were as follows : 1849-'50, lj652,220 ; 1850-'51, 1,332,867 ; 



2,893,6GG; 1862-'G3, 4,069.520 ; 1863-'64, 3,261,105 ; 1864-'65, 2,422,779 ; 

 1805-'6G, 1,785,955; 1866-'G7, 2,490,791 ; 1867--68, 2,781,084; 1868-'69, 

 2,499,873 ; 1869-'70, 2,635,312 ; 1870-'71, 3,695,251 ; 1871-'72, 4,831,558. 

 At the time when this report was sent to press the record for the 

 packing season of 1872-'73 had not been made up, the statistics of 

 Chicago and Saint Louis not having been completed. Using the most 

 reliable estimates of the business of these important points, the results 

 of the season just concluded may, -with very close approximation, be 

 given as follows : 



In the above figures the number for the current season is made up 

 only from the points reported the previous season. To the aggregate 

 should be added about 100,000 hogs packed at points not previously 

 reported, making the aggregate for lS72-'73, 5,421,028. 



The number packed at the leading points in tlie United States during 

 the last three seasons was as follows : 



1670-71. 1871-"72. 1872-'73 



Chicago 



Cincinnati - . 

 Saint Louis . 

 Louisville . . . 

 Milwaukee. . 

 Indianaijolis 



918, 087 

 500, 066 

 305, 600 

 242, 135 

 241, 000 

 105, 000 



1, 225, 236 

 656, 841 

 419, 032 

 309, 512 

 315,000 

 172,100 



1870-'71. 1871-'72. 1873-'73, 



,400,586,1 Saiut Joseph ami 74,300 



626, 305i vicinity 



550, OOO I Kansas City ' 



302,246! Peoriii 



303, 500; Keokuk ' 



190, 317 I I 



lie, 155 



83,000 

 96,225 



57, 500 



88,082 



187, 221 

 104, 756 

 71, 156 



Near the close of the season it was estimated by leading pork author- 

 ities that the increase of weight per hog averaged about five pounds. 

 An increase in the lard product was also partially indicated, but the low 

 prices prevailing during the latter part of the season it was thought 

 would check this upward movement and reduce the aggregate yield to 

 about the figures of the previous year. 



The amount of work accomplished by this division, during the past 

 year, in the preparation of special statistical statements for the use of 

 committees of Congress, boards of agriculture, and rural associations of 

 many kinds, and for pui3lic use by representative individuals, has been 



