468 



Market Prices. 



[SEPT., 



for best Shorthorns, while at London and several other markets the highest 

 price was Js. lod. 



The country trade for sheep was no. better than in London. Only a 

 few markets showed an advance, while the majority were slow at previous 

 rates. 



In consequence of short supplies, frozen and chilled beef were a little 

 dearer at Smithfield, but the better classes were cheaper, Scotch sides 

 declined English \d., and port-killed \d. per lb. Mutton was an excep- 

 tionally bad trade, the holiday demand being so small and good supplies 

 of fresh Dutch being on offer. It is remarkable that English best mutton 

 should only be worth 63^. per cwt. at London, while at Birmingham, Leeds, 

 Manchester and Liverpool it was fetching 70s., but the causes above given 

 are quite sufficient to account for the difference. Lamb was in very small 

 demand in London, the extreme top price being 74s. Sd. against 77s. at 

 Leeds, 70^. at Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool, and Sis. Sd. at 

 Dundee. Veal had become scarce in London and advanced \d. per lb. 

 On the Wednesday the largest dealer in Dutch at the Central Market had 

 sold out at 1 1 a.m. — a very unusual occurrence. 



Third Week. — As the month advanced the quality, or rather, the 

 condition of the cattle coming to market steadily depreciated. The effects 

 of the drought became very apparent, and really prime well finished cattle 

 became scarce, while supplies of half-fattened cattle were proportionately large. 

 Thus the trade was uneven, and in most markets neither a definite rise or fall 

 could be reported. At a few, including Ipswich, Glasgow and Inverness 

 an advance was established, but the general tendency was firmness for the 

 few first-quality on offer, but a poor demand, and, in some cases a decline 

 for the middling animals. The position of the trade was well exemplified by 

 the exceptionally high prices made at Ipswich, where best Shorthorns made 

 up to 8s. gd. per (14 lb.) stone, or 7\d. per lb., and at Norwich, where the 

 highest quotation was 8s. 6d. per stone, or 7\d. per lb. This was obviously 

 owing to the superior grazing and feeding of that district, which produced 

 far better condition, and attracted buyers from a distance. At correspond- 

 ing markets in other parts of England during the week there was a striking 

 difference, the highest price for Shorthorns in London being 7s. iod., at 

 Shrewsbury 7s. 7d., and at Bristol only 7s. 6d. Thus it will be seen that 

 there was nearly id. per lb. between the prices realized in the extreme 

 east and west. 



The trade for sheep was depressed nearly all over the country and about 

 16 markets showed a fall in prices, improvement being only noted at 

 Ipswich and Hull and, for extra good quality, at Newcastle. There is no 

 doubt that the continued dry weather has at least greatly accentuated the 

 depression in sheep as well as in cattle and more especially in lambs. Many 

 have been evidently sent to market in order to thin down the stocks, 

 and they may be badly wanted when the normal time arrives for their 

 sale. There was a general revival in the demand for fat pigs, both 

 bacon and pork, which sold readily in nearly every market, and at some 

 places at a little more money. 



The most interesting features in the dead-meat market were again the 

 dearness of frozen and chilled beef, and the cheapness of British mutton in 

 London. British beef remained unchanged and port-killed virtually so, 

 but Argentine frozen hindquarters and American forequarters again 

 advanced \d. per lb. 



