320 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



It is interesting to note that the advent of the refrigerator 

 car, about 1875, had a marked effect on the proportionate num- 

 ber of hogs shipped. The largest number of hogs received at 

 Chicago in a year was in 1916, when 9,188,224 head were re- 

 ceived at the yards proper. If receipts by outside packing 

 firms are included, the figure is raised to 9,528,267, The highest 

 record for a month is credited to January, 1916, when 1,227,508 

 hogs were received at the yards and enough by outside packers 

 to make the total 1,286, 616. The record week was that ending 

 January 8, 1916, when 334,279 were received at the yards, and 



Fig. 99. Unloading Hogs at Chicago. 



356,362 in all. On November 29, 1918, the largest day's receipts 

 were recorded, the figures being 96,964 and 101,601 respectively. 



The number of hogs marketed annually varies greatly. 

 This fluctuation is caused partly by the ravages of disease, and 

 partly by the fact that if an unexpected or temporary demand 

 springs up, and higher prices rule, great numbers of hogs of 

 inferior size and weight are rushed to market. 



Some peculiarities of the hog crop. The following table 

 gives the monthly average weights of hogs at Chicago during 

 the years from 1907 to 1918 inclusive. The highest monthly 

 average of each year is given in black type, while the lowest 

 monthly average is enclosed in parenthesis: 



