1908.] 



Market Prices. 



467 



the current year, to meet the demand for small mutton. The first consign- 

 ment of these grand young sheep arrived on Bank Holiday, and no better 

 proof could be forthcoming of the truth of what has been said of the " off" 

 character of that day than the fact that even these could not be sold. They 

 were slaughtered at the abattoirs, sent to the Central Market, and sold there 

 at y\d. per lb. This was not a great price for such desirable quality, but it 

 was hd. per lb. better than any other English carcase mutton. The trade 

 •all over the country for beef during the week was slow and values were 

 generally lower, although a few prime beasts still fetched yd. per lb. This 

 dullness was attributed in the Board's Weekly Market Returns to the falling 

 off in quality of most of the cattle on offer as well as to the holidays. The 

 highest quotation was at Newcastle, where the best Shorthorns made 8i\ 6d. 

 per 14 lb. stone, against 8^. $d. at London, Ashford and Derby, and 8s 3d. 

 at Norwich. 



The sheep trade was unchanged at the large majority of the country 

 markets, but where there was any alteration in values the tendency was 

 generally downwards. Norwich was rather a striking exception, for here 

 there was a decided advance. At this place and also at Crewe the first 

 quality of Downs realized 8pt per lb., a price only exceeded at Shrewsbury, 

 where yd. was touched, while at Peterborough, Ipswich and York the highest 

 price was only y\d. 



The dead-meat markets were firm for beef all the week. Supplies of 

 port-killed were small and prices relatively high. The London quotation 

 was 6%d. for the best American and 5|^. for Canadian Ranch, against 6|<f. 

 for Scotch and 6\d. for English sides. Frozen beef showed a tendency to 

 advance and chilled American was firm. London and Leeds were the two 

 highest markets for English best beef, but cow beef in London was very 

 low compared with the country markets. It is well known that many fat cows 

 are bought regularly at Islington for the country trade. The trade for fresh 

 mutton in London was remarkably slow and lifeless. Even the best Scotch 

 was only worth y\d. per lb. and English yd. Dutch mutton is now com- 

 peting severely with British at Smithfield and fetches only \d. per lb. less 

 than English. At Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, English 

 mutton ruled 4s. Sd. per cwt. higher than in London. Veal, which during 

 July was very cheap, now became scarce and advanced \d. per lb., the best 

 realizing yd. per lb. 



Second Week. — The prevailing feature of the trade in fat cattle for the 

 week ending 13th August was a dulness and slowness of demand, generally 

 attributed to the poor condition of a large proportion of the animals on offer. 

 At Islington on Monday there was a decided fall of \d. per lb. all round 

 excepting for a few choice Devons, and even these were \d. lower, yet the 

 market failed to clear. The top price of Shorthorns was b\d. and of Here- 

 fords yd. per lb. The trade for mutton was again lifeless, but prices were 

 maintained, although all could not be sold. Down wethers at 72 to 8c lb., 

 dressed weight, sold at 8\d. to 8d. per lb., but a few small Scotch cross-breds 

 were worth gd. and the Hampshire tegs, above described, nearly as much. 

 The best lambs fetched no more than small mutton. At Ipswich next day 

 there was a very good trade for both beef and mutton, but this market stood 

 almost alone in that respect. A number of the official reports stated that 

 trade was slow and that prices were unchanged, only two or three recorded 

 any advance while several noted a decline. Peterborough, Ipswich and 

 Norwich were the three best markets, 8s. 3d. per 14 lb. being their highest 



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