126 



LIVE WEIGHT PRICES OF CATTLE. 



The returns received by the Board of Agriculture from the 

 twenty-one places scheduled under the Markets and Fairs 

 (Weighing of Cattle) Act, 1 891, showed that during the first 

 quarter of 1903 a larger number of cattle and swine were exposed 

 for sale at these towns than during the corresponding period of 

 any recent year. The number of sheep, however, showed a 

 slight diminution compared with the first quarter of 1902. 





1st 



1st 



Animals. 



Quartet, 



Quarter, 





1903. 



1902. 



Cattle : 



No. 



No. 



Entering markets 



296,220 



2 7*>534 



Weighed 



42,852 



43,379 



Prices returned 



35,193 



35,217 



Prices returned with quality distinguished ... 



29,641 



29,764 



Sheep : 







Entering markers 



754,537 



759,637 



Weighed 



9,105 



9,023 



Prices returned with quality distinguished ... 



8.515 



8,099 



Swine : 







Entering markets ... ... ... ... • 



123,228 



109,271 



Weighed ... ... ... ... ... 



586 



37i 



Prices returned with quality distinguished ... 



586 



337 



There was some falling off in the proportion of cattle weighed 

 as compared with the March quarter of 1902. This may, per- 

 haps, be attributed to the largely increased numbers which 

 entered some of the English markets where the weighing of 

 cattle is but little practised, as, for instance, at York, where no 

 cattle were weighed, although 24,345 entered the market, as 

 against 15,826 in the first three months of last year, and at 

 Norwich, where the number exposed was greater by 10,000, but 



