125 



LIVE WEIGHT PRICES OF CATTLE. 



The returns received from the twenty- one places scheduled 

 under the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Act, 1891, 

 show that during the first quarter of 1902 the number of cattle 

 and sheep entering these markets was somewhat larger than 

 in the corresponding period of 1901, whilst that of pigs was 

 practically the same : — 



Animals. 



ISt 



Quarter, 

 1902. 



ISt 



Quarter, 

 1901. 



Cattle : 









No. 



No. 



Entering markets 









278,534 



271,825 



Weighed - 









43,379 



38,459 











35,217 



32,837 



Prices returned 



with 



quality 



dis- 





tinguished 







29,764 



27,397 



Sheep : 













Entering markets 









759,637 



724,286 



Weighed - 









9,023 



9,218 



Prices returned 



with 



quality 



dis- 







tinguished 







8,099 



8,168 



Swine : 













Entering markets 









109,271 



109,336 



Weighed - 









37i 



483 



Prices returned 



with 



quality 



dis- 





tinguished 







337 



j 483 



The number of cattle weighed reached 15*57 P er cent, of 

 the total number returned, being a higher proportion than in 

 any previous quarter, while the percentage for which prices 

 in conjunction with weight were available was 10*69, which 

 also slightly exceeds any preceding record. 



At three places (Birmingham, Bristol and York) the weigh- 

 bridge appears to have been entirely unused during the three 

 months, while at two other places (Ashford and Salford), 

 although a certain number of animals were weighed, no inform- 

 ation as to the prices realised for them was supplied. The 

 .average prices at the thirteen markets, from which sufficient 



