1908.] 



Market Prices. 



227 



excellence lay chiefly in the fine finish given them in the 

 Norfolk yards. Even second quality animals were freely taken 

 at 4s. 8d. per 8-lb. stone, and some choice lots were proved by 

 the weighbridge to have realised 5s. 4^. per stone. 



A word about the weighbridge might be permitted here. 

 It is well known that it has become very popular in the North, 

 but its use in London has hitherto been restricted. I can, 

 however, see a steady and constant growth in the estimation 

 in which it is held at Islington, and have little doubt that 

 its use in the future will largely increase. It has often struck 

 the writer how easily the farmers might avail themselves 

 of this means of knowing the actual weight of their animals 

 and the price per stone realised. They would only have to 

 instruct the salesmen to weigh every animal either before or 

 after sale, and enclose the weighbridge ticket with the cheque. 



London was the only one of the selected markets which in 

 the third week of May was quoted as high as 5s. per 8-lb. stone 

 for Shorthorns, and but for the weighbridge there would have 

 been no means of proving the quotation correct ; but, as stated 

 above, several animals were shown by its use to have been 

 actually sold at 5s. 4^. per 8-lb. stone, which is fully equal 

 to yld. for the dressed carcase. This price is the equivalent of 

 8s. gd. per stone of 14 lbs. The trade for fat sheep was better 

 at many country markets than in London, where prices were 

 firm, but no higher, whereas there was a distinct advance at 

 Chichester, Darlington, Derby, Hereford, Hull, Leeds, New- 

 castle and Norwich. At the London Central Market short 

 sides of Scotch beef made up to 65s. /[d. per cwt., i.e., yd. per 

 lb. ; long sides, 605. 8d. ; English, 58s. /\d. ; and American 

 port killed, 58s. 4^. ; all showing a decided advance. Mutton 

 was, on the contrary, rather weaker, a notable feature being 

 that English was quoted id. per lb. higher in Manchester than 

 in London. At the former market English mutton was quoted 

 at 8%d. and Scotch g\d. per lb. London was very low for veal 

 compared with country markets, the top price being 65s. 4^. 

 per cwt. against 67s. 8d. at Birmingham, 72s. /\d. at Leeds, 

 70s. at Manchester, and 77s. at Liverpool. 



Fourth week. — The advance in beef showed no sign of giving 

 way at the close of the month, although buyers were more 

 cautious. Islington on the 25th was well supplied with 1,140 



p 2 



