1908.] 



Market Prices. 



147 



REVIEW OF MARKET PRICES IN APRIL. 

 A. T. Matthews. 



The month began with accounts from nearly all the country 

 markets of a good demand for fat cattle with prices showing a 

 tendency to advance. Quotations, however, rarely exceeded 

 6%d. to yd. for nice cattle of handy weights. There had been a 

 visible improvement in the tone at London on March 30th which 

 was more than maintained on April 6th in the face of a larger 

 supply. Much business was done before 5 a.m. and buyers 

 were seen who have forsaken Islington for a long time past. 

 The falling off in American shipments had considerable effect, 

 together with sensational statements of huge re-exportations 

 of tinned beef. It was further reported that in the English 

 shires there were very light reserves of feeding beasts in the 

 stalls, in view of the fact that fully three months must pass 

 before grass-fed animals could be available. At Norwich on 

 April 4th no fewer than 1,383 bead of fat cattle were on offer, 

 but these were nearly all taken by buyers from distant centres. 

 The most striking feature was the activity of buyers for the 

 Central Meat Market both at Norwich and London. 



Both in London and country markets the very dull demand 

 for mutton which has so strongly marked the present year 

 was continued during the first week of the month, but the 

 seeming reluctance to buy did not result in any appreciable 

 lowering of prices. For several weeks the top price of first 

 quality Down tegs had stood firm at qd. per lb., and this was 

 again the case at Islington on the 6th. Clipped sheep were 

 fairly numerous, but were all cleared off by eleven o'clock 

 at prices varying from yd. to Sd. per lb. according to weight 

 and quality, and as clipping becomes general a more lively 

 trade was freely foretold. The weather continuing cold lambs 

 were in poor request, and prices still ranged from 13^. to 

 gd. per lb. 



In the dead-meat market trade was quiet, but prices were 

 firm, and a small but distinct advance was established for all 

 the best classes of beef, while mutton was certainly no cheaper. 

 Pork and veal showed very little change, but there was less 

 depression in the trade for the former than in the closing days 

 of March. 



K 2 



