1908.] 



Market Prices. 



225 



REVIEW OF MARKET PRICES IN MAY. 

 A. T. Matthews. 



The weather of the first two days was remarkably warm 

 and close, causing some trouble in the dead-meat market, 

 salesmen being unprepared for the sudden change of tempera- 

 ture. This had a rather bad effect on the trade for live cattle, 

 particularly at markets held on 4th and 5th May. London 

 declined \d. per lb., following a bad trade and lower prices 

 at Norwich on the Saturday. Taking the average of the selected 

 markets, during the first week beef hardly maintained its price, 

 but in a few places there was a slight improvement. Fat 

 sheep, now mostly clipped, were rather too heavily supplied 

 at some markets, but the majority were firm and unchanged. 

 The larger numbers were doubtless owing to the end of the root 

 crop being nearly reached. The first May market at Islington 

 was a little better for clipped sheep, but those in wool were 

 neglected. Lambs were over supplied, and, many being too 

 forward and heavy for the trade, business with them was 

 sluggish, and a considerable number were not sold, ys. per 

 8 lb. being the top price. 



The dead-meat trade was dull, many carcases being affected 

 by the weather ; prices were normal, but beef was a little 

 lower than the previous week. Mutton also sold slowly ; 

 English tegs fetching j\d., showing a decline of \d. per lb. 

 Veal was exceptionally difficult of sale, even at a heavy reduc- 

 tion. Good English was selling at 4s. and prime Dutch at 

 4s. 4d. per 8 lb. As frequently happens, prices for veal were 

 much lower in London than in many of the country markets, 

 Smithfield being so easily reached from Holland. Notwith- 

 standing the weather there was a full supply of porkers, but 

 this article is out of season, and sellers found the greatest 

 difficulty in moving it at 5^. per lb. Small West Country 

 lambs were in demand at n^d. per lb. and second quality at 

 lo^d. 



Second Week. — The cattle markets fully recovered from the 

 brief depression of the previous week, and, with a few 

 ■exceptions, such as Ipswich, Leicester, Aberdeen, Dundee 

 and Glasgow, there was a much reduced supply. Prices 

 (3599) p 



