1908.] 



Market Prices. 



n 



firm, and bacon was a better trade, Irish advancing 5s. and 

 Danish is. per cwt. 



Fourth Week. — After many weeks of uniformity in the top 

 price of Norfolk cattle at Islington, prices on the 23rd gave way 

 to the extent of \d. per lb., and 6^d. was all that could be 

 obtained for the choicest quality. As is frequently the case, 

 Islington followed Deptford, and on that day the arrivals of 

 States cattle were in excess of the somewhat restricted demand. 



Beef in the country generally, however, may be regarded as 

 having maintained its value for the week ending 26th March. 



Sheep were a very slow trade in London on the 23rd at a 

 general reduction of about is. 6d. per head. There was also 

 some want of animation at the majority of the provincial 

 markets. Four of the 27 markets were reported dearer, while 8 

 were cheaper, the remainder being firm and unchanged. This 

 scarcely applies to clipped sheep, of which a good many were 

 on offer. For these the buyers showed a decided preference, 

 the state of the wool market having checked the demand for 

 unshorn sheep. Lambs are now coming forward in much larger 

 numbers and showing better quality. Small Downs fetched is. 

 per lb. at London and up to is. 2d. at Newcastle. 



There was no noticeable change in the carcase trade during 

 the week, sellers of all kinds of meat complaining of the very 

 poor demand. 



The trade for butter again gave way, and the month closed 

 with rather serious reductions in value. At London Australian 

 declined 8s. per cwt., New Zealand 6s., French 8s. and Danish 2s. 

 Cheese remained firm and bacon steady, with a slight advance 

 in American. 



Latest Markets. — At Norwich on Saturday, 28th March, 

 there was a moderate supply of beef cattle, and buyers attended 

 Islington on the 30th to fill up their requirements. The result 

 was a good trade at an advance of \d. per lb. ; good Norfolks 

 fetching yd. per lb. 



Sheep, although in moderate supply, met a slow trade, with 

 no advance in values. 



General Remarks. — On the whole the month of March has been 

 characterised by no sudden or serious fluctuations in the values 

 of beef and mutton, indeed they have been remarkably steady, 

 and much the same as those of last year in spite of the very 



