6 3 8 



Live and Dead Meat Trade in October, [no v., 



and low temperature which set in about the 1 8th, when a more cheerful 

 and hopeful tone pervaded the market. Scotch beef remained firm at 

 the price recorded last week, and English was firm for the best at 

 %\d. per lb. There was, however, a considerable quantity sold as low 

 as $d. The difference between Scotch at 6\d. and English at $\d. is 

 far greater than is usual under ordinary conditions, and points to the 

 exceptionally low quality of the English beef coming to London this 

 autumn. There was a slight rise in Deptford-killed sides and a very great 

 one in Argentine chilled. Hind quarters advanced lod. per 8 lbs. on the 

 week, partly attributed to the arrival of a large consignment of much 

 better quality than usual. American chilled also advanced another \d. 

 per lb. and was firmly held for yd. per lb. for the best hind quarters. Veal 

 and pork were very firm and business in the latter was largely done at 6\d. 

 per lb. Mutton also participated in the general improvement to the extent 

 of \d. per lb. 



Last Week. — There was a very good trade for beef at Norwich on the 

 Saturday, with plenty of buyers at 8s. 6d. per 14 lb., but sheep were a poor 

 trade and made less money. At Islington there was another wet market 

 day, which prevented what everyone expected, viz., a very good trade. 

 There were nearly 300 more cattle on offer, always a sufficient increase to 

 affect business at this market. Yet, with these adverse influences, prices, 

 except for fat cows, were certainly no worse, and for a very few of the best 

 the official quotations were slightly exceeded. These cases, however, were 

 too rare to justify any claim for a general advance. For instance, eight 

 Shorthorns, weighed after sale, were found to have realized 36^. 2d. per live 

 cwt, while the generally recorded price for the same class of cattle was 

 34.?. 8d. Fat cows were slow to sell at a reduction of \d. per lb. There 

 were 5,340 sheep on offer, and trade was fairly brisk in the early morning, 

 but the demand fell away and values at the finish could not be quoted any 

 higher. In fact, Cheviots were quoted \d. cheaper. English Down tegs 

 still made 8\d. per lb., and other sorts were firm. The heavy rain quite 

 robbed the sheep of their blooming appearance and in every way told 

 against the trade. 



At the Central Market on the last Wednesday the weather was once 

 more of the very worst character for the meat trade. Fortunately, supplies 

 were moderate, and demand was just sufficiently active to prevent a fall in 

 prices for beef. Scotch was still firm and English unchanged, though the 

 quality of the latter left much to be desired. There were many complaints 

 on this head with regard to the supply of American and Canadian port 

 killed, which included very few indeed of first quality, and a few selected 

 States sides commanded a slight advance on the week. The extreme rates 

 for Argentine chilled given the previous week were not quite maintained, 

 but the best States advanced another \d. per lb., bringing hind quarters to 

 l\d. per lb. The average of the whole carcase was thus equal to the best 

 port killed, which occurs but rarely. 



The mutton trade was again much depressed, and values declined \d. per 

 lb. all round except for frozen, and even that was a trifle easier for some 

 descriptions. Veal was slow and declined \d., but the trade for pork 

 suffered a severe collapse. Supplies were heavy and demand small owing 

 to the weather, and prices fell to the extent of id. per lb. The London 

 trade in this article at this season is very uncertain and fluctuating. 



Store Stock. — October has been a month of rapid growth for roots and 



