309 



LIVE WEIGHT PRICES OF CATTLE. 



The returns received from the twenty-one places in Great 

 Britain scheduled under the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of 

 Cattle) Act, 1891, shew that the number of cattle entering these 

 markets during the first half of 1904 was 589,740, as compared 

 with 624,895 in the same period of 1903, or a decline of over 

 35,000 head. The number of sheep declined by 17,400 head, 

 but swine increased by over 11,000. The details of the number 

 of stock shewn and the number for which weights and prices 

 were furnished by the market authorities and auctioneers at 

 each place, during the first six months of the current year, are 

 given in Table II. 



At York, Birmingham, and Bristol the weighbridge appears 

 to have remained unused, and at Ashford, Lincoln, and Norwich 

 the number weighed continues to be insignificant. The largest 

 number of cattle returned as weighed at any one market was 

 14,550 at Edinburgh; while 12,831 were weighed at Aberdeen 

 and 10,024 at Shrewsbury. At the latter market, however, the 

 great majority were stores. Sheep were only weighed in any 

 number at six of the twenty-one markets, the largest totals 

 being reported from Aberdeen and London; while of the few 

 swine weighed nearly three-fourths were returned at Newcastle, 



The total number of cattle for which prices were returned with 

 quality distinguished was very slightly less than in 1903, so 

 that, in view of the numbers shewn, the percentage which this 

 figure bears to the total, viz., I2'i6per cent., is a little higher. 

 As has always been the case, very much greater use was made of 

 the weighbridge in Scotland than in England, and in the former 

 country the number of cattle priced, with quality distinguished, 

 amounted to 31*4 of the total shewn, as against only 5-6 in 

 England. 



Considering the average course of prices during the first half 

 of the present year, as deduced from the returns at these 

 markets, the following table shews that while there was not 

 much change in the price of fat cattle during the four months 

 January to April, there was an appreciable rise in May, followed 

 by a sharper increase of 3s. per cwt. in June. 



C C 2 



