3BS 



Market Prices. 



[august, 



hot exceed 6\d. and some of those in poor condition went for still less money. 

 The trade in the country was weaker for beef on the whole, but the move- 

 ment was not uniformly downwards, a few even recording an advance 

 amongst these being Leeds, Leicester, York, Wolverhampton, Glasgow, 

 Dundee, Inverness and Stirling. Quite double the number of the above 

 showed a decline, including Ashford, Derby, Peterborough, Salford 

 and Shrewsbury. The trade for fat sheep in London on the 6th was 

 again remarkably dull. More than half the supply of 6,620 was composed 

 of those which had been left over from the previous week and again 

 a clearance was found to be impossible. For this to happen two weeks 

 in succession is a rare occurrence in the London market. Under these 

 circumstances, needless to say, prices were lower. The nominal quotation 

 was a decline of \d. per lb., but there is no doubt that larger concessions 

 would have been made for the heavier sheep had offers been forthcoming, 

 both farmers and salesmen strongly objecting to holding over if it can 

 possibly be helped. The top price of Down tegs weighing about 70 lbs. was 

 7%d. per lb. and that of heavy sheep as low as 7%d., while 88-lb. Romney 

 Marsh wethers were quite unsaleable. It may be worthy of note that at the 

 corresponding market last year, with a larger supply by about 3,000, the 

 prices were \\d. per lb. higher, or no less than 9^. per head on 72-lb. sheep. 

 At the majority of the country markets matters were not nearly so bad as in 

 London, for although the demand was dull, it was only at a small minority 

 that values were actually lower, while at five or six there was even a slight 

 improvement. In actual values the following markets were quoted higher 

 than in London for best Down sheep : — Dorchester, Shrewsbury, Ruthin, 

 Derby, Leicester, Peterborough, Salford, Newcastle, Wolverhampton and 

 Crewe. It will thus be seen that London was exceptionally depressed, a 

 state of things which may be partially accounted for by the average weight 

 of the sheep sent to London at this time of year being too large for 

 butchers' requirements. In this connection, it is worth mentioning that 

 small Scotch half-breds realized Z\d. per lb. against *]\d. for prime English 

 Downs. The reason given by butchers for this preference is not because 

 of superiority in texture or flavour but solely on account of the smallness 

 of the joints. 



With the commencement of July, the inflated prices for American chilled 

 beef which had been reached in June, rapidly gave way, falling, for best hind 

 quarters, no less than id. per lb. from the highest point. On the 6th the 

 price touched 6d. per lb., which is about its normal level, the decline being 

 much larger in London than at the provincial markets. No other class of 

 beef participated in either the rise or fall to anything like the extent of 

 American chilled. English sides touched 6^d. on June 25th and had fallen 

 to 6\d. by July 6th, the movements in Deptford-killed being somewhat 

 similar, New Zealand frozen beef, which had advanced about \d. per lb. on 

 its usual price, falling only about \d. 



The decline in fresh mutton during the first week was \d. per lb., but 

 frozen was practically unchanged. Fresh lamb sold badly, gd. per lb. being 

 its extreme value, and veal also was at least §d t per lb. lower. 



Second Week — The most striking feature of Islington Market was the 

 falling off in the supplies both of cattle and sheep, compared with the 

 previous week and the corresponding day last year. The weather was very 

 wet and the attendance poor, yet prices were firm for cattle. Shorthorns 

 realized up to yd. per lb,, Herefords, yd., and Devons, *]\d. The tendency of 



