306 



Market Prices. 



[JULY, 



REVIEW OF MARKET PRICES IN JUNE. 

 A. T. Matthews. 



First week. — The Metropolitan Market at Islington on the first day of 

 the month was supplied with 1,020 fat cattle, and Thursday's market 

 brought the total to 1,140, which gave London the sixth place on the list of 

 scheduled markets for the week as regards the numbers on offer. The 

 quality of the animals generally was good, and this also applies to most of 

 the country markets. It has, in fact, been the subject of general remark 

 that cattle have been turned out lately in better condition than usual. 

 Trade, however, was rather disappointing, owing partly to the hot 

 weather, and prices declined \d. per lb., yd. being the maximum figure, or 

 \d. per lb. less than the highest which had yet been reached, y\d. having 

 been touched on 18th May. This check to the steady improvement in beef 

 values was, however, by no means uniform throughout the country, nearly 

 half the markets being very firm, and a few recording an advance. At 

 others the supplies were rather too heavy for the demand, and amongst 

 these were Hereford, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle,. 

 Shrewsbury, York, Dundee, Glasgow and other important centres. 



The very moderate supply of 8,100 sheep and lambs at Islington, of 

 which 7,130 were offered on the Monday, met a very slow trade, except 

 the few light-weights on offer, which sold readily enough at previous 

 rates. The top price of English Downs was Z\d. per lb., but some prime 

 Scotch half-breds reached gd. For all wethers exceeding 72 lbs. in weight 

 less money had to be accepted. Small lambs fetched up to ud. per lb., but 

 there were plenty of heavier ones which did not exceed iod. The country 

 markets for sheep, like those for cattle, varied considerably, and it is- 

 interesting to note that many of these showed a growing preference for 

 small weights. At about nineteen centres in England and Scotland prices 

 were rather easier, while at eighteen they were well maintained. As regards- 

 relative values the top price of Down tegs exceeded that of London at seven 

 places. These were Chichester, Dorchester, Shrewsbury, Ruthin, Derby, 

 Newcastle and Salford, the last named being, as it frequently is, the dearest 

 of the English markets. In the markets for dead meat there was no 

 particular excitement during the first week, though prices of fresh beef were 

 above the normal level of late years. Scotch short sides sold at 65.?. \d. per 

 cwt, and long sides at 58^. \d. for first quality in the London Central 

 Market, while English stood at 57J. 2d, and port killed American 

 at 595". 6d. The variations of these prices in relation to each other at 

 different markets are worthy of note here. English beef was dearer at 

 Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester than in London, their prices being 

 58 j. 4d., $gs. 6d. and 58.?. 4d. respectively, while port killed, on the contrary, 

 was considerably cheaper in the country. Against London's 59.9. 6d. we 

 have Birmingham, 54^. iod. ; Leeds, 56^. ; Manchester, 56s. ; Liverpool, 

 585-. 4d., and Glasgow, 56.T. In American chilled hind quarters we have 

 another curious variation, these being much the lowest in London. Here, this 

 class was fetching only 59^. 6d., while in Birmingham it was worth 63s. ;. 

 Leeds, 61s. iod. ; Manchester and Liverpool, 60s. Sd. ; Glasgow, 6oj-. %d. ; 

 Edinburgh and Dundee, 63^. The arrivals of live cattle at Deptford were 

 small, and the trade was evidently in a very uncertain state. Frozen beef 

 was not yet at all affected by the shortage of fresh killed, and salesmen 

 complained of a very bad trade. Taking the average of hind and fore- 



