6 3 6 



Live and Dead Meat Trade in October, [nov., 



•described as very disappointing and 3d. lower, but nearly all the Scotch 

 markets showed some improvement. 



In fat sheep the fluctuations were very similar. At Dorchester a rise of 

 gd. per lb. was recorded, at Leicester, \d. ; London, \d. ; Ipswich, \d. ; and 

 Newcastle, \d. ; Scotch markets being affected very similarly. Bristol and 

 Norwich were quoted lower by \d. per lb. More important perhaps than 

 these small fluctuations were the much more cheerful tone prevailing and 

 the greater confidence shown by holders of both cattle and sheep. 



The dead-meat trade was seriously affected by the hot, humid weather 

 which prevailed over the whole country during the week, and heavy losses 

 were suffered from tainting. Not only were considerable quantities rendered 

 unfit for food, but numbers of carcases were sold at ruinously low prices to 

 escape complete loss. Pork and veal were perhaps the worst affected, but 

 all kinds of meat were a very uncertain trade. By the 7th October, how- 

 ever, there was a change for the better and there was a very firm market for 

 fresh delivered and sound meat. Scotch longsides were unchanged at d\d. 

 to 6\d. and English at $%d. to ^\d., port-killed showing some advance, and 

 American chilled was dearer by \d. per lb. than on the last day of September 

 Supplies of veal were very short and good prices were made, best quality 

 fetching Sd. per lb. There was a better demand for mutton at an advance 

 •of Id. for Scotch, and \d. for English teg carcases, prime Scotch fetching 

 y\d. and small English y\d. per lb. Dutch lambs, or " tegs," sold well at 

 yd., but heavy Continental wethers were selling at ^\d. Pork recovered 

 from the panic prices of the previous week and, being very sparingly offered, 

 experienced a sharp advance to b\d. for small, and %\d. for larger pigs. 

 The above prices are those of London Central Market. 



Second Week. — A manifest improvement in the demand for both beef 

 and mutton set in with the second week, and a more cheerful tone prevailed 

 in nearly all the markets. Generally speaking there were reports of some 

 slight alteration for the better in the condition of the animals, though 

 complaints on this head still came to hand from many quarters. With only 

 one or two exceptions there was more willingness to buy, and the following 

 markets were actually quoted higher, taking as our guide the best quality of 

 Shorthorns : — London, 4a. ; Ashford, 3d. ; Newport, 4d. ; Hull, 6d. ; Leeds, 

 3d. ; Wakefield, 2d. per 14 lb. stone ; and York, 6d. ; Darlington, is. ; Inver- 

 ness, is. 2d. ; Stirling, is. 4d. per live cwt. Edinburgh declined is. 3d., and 

 Glasgow 2s. per live cwt. Prices in London on the 12th were no 

 higher for cattle other than Shorthorns, but this breed, which had 

 'been very badly represented in this market for several weeks, showed a 

 sufficient improvement to justify an advance of 3d. per 14 lb. stone in 

 the quotations. The sheep trade also showed unmistakeable signs of 

 recovery, though to a less marked extent than that for beef. In London 

 there was a firm trade, and a clearance made, and at Bristol prices improved 

 \d. per lb. for Downs ; Shrewsbury, \d. ; Leicester, \d. ; Ipswich, \d. 

 Norwich, \d. ; and Crewe, \d. At Dorchester, Derby and Newcastle 

 a small decline was recorded. The pig trade was very irregular, owing, 

 doubtless, to the state of the weather. In view of the revival of trade in 

 fat stock in almost every part of the country, the state of the dead-meat 

 markets was a disappointment, especially as regards mutton. Scotch beef 

 indeed, more than held its own. It has maintained its normal quality much 

 better than English during this trying season, and has therefore held a 

 commanding position in the London market. During the second week in 



