1908.] Live and Dead Meat Trade in November. 719 



Third Week. — After the distinctly more cheerful tone so generally 

 prevailing during the preceding week in the trade for cattle, the market at 

 Islington proved a disappointing one. The choicer qualities amongst 

 those on offer on the 16th were equally neglected with those in indifferent 

 condition, and the value of Devons, Herefords and Welsh Runts was 

 reduced by \d. per lb. A slight improvement amongst the Shorthorns was 

 sufficient to save the best of them from being quoted lower than the previous 

 week, but the demand was so weak that all could not be disposed of and 

 many left the market unsold. 



The paucity of buyers in the sheep market was very marked, and it was 

 said that the attendance was smaller even than that usually seen on a Bank 

 Holiday. Even for the small muster of 4,230 head there were too few- 

 customers, and, of course, under such circumstances prices gave way ; the 

 best Downs of small weight were sold at 8d. per lb., and Cheviots at 

 S^d. There was far too large a supply of coarse, heavy Longwools, 

 many of them weighing 96 lb., and totally unsuitable for the London trade 

 even when it is fairly good, but at a time like the present they add to the 

 depression of an already dull market. The sheep alluded to more 

 particularly are Romney Marsh wethers — not ewes, but " shearhogs " of 

 two years old. 



There was little change in the value of beef in the country markets. 

 The fact that prime Shorthorns fetched gs. per 14-lb. stone at Ipswich, 8s. at 

 Norwich, Dorchester, Bristol, Lincoln, Hull and Newcastle, and only ys. yd. 

 at London, Leicester, Leeds and Wakefield, forms a very practical comment 

 on the extraordinary variations of quality in different parts of the country in 

 the present peculiar grazing season. 



The average price of mutton again declined to a small extent. Most of 

 the markets reported no change, but a fall of \d. per lb. took place at 

 Wolverhampton and Hull. The highest price of " Downs " was recorded 

 at Chichester, where the first quality fetched gd. per lb. Here, of course, 

 we have the question of breed, as the Sussex Downs are naturally 

 well represented at Chichester, and nothing can touch them for value 

 per lb. 



The Central Meat Market in this third week presented an unusual 

 feature, and one specially interesting when we recall the events of last 

 summer in connection with the supplies of chilied beef. There was a 

 further heavy fall in the value of this article, bringing down the price of best 

 American hind quarters to 3s. ^d. per 8 lb., and that of Argentine to 2s. 6d.> 

 second qualities being 2s. 8d. and 2s. respectively. The effect of this was to 

 suspend the sale of frozen beef so that no quotations could be given. All 

 fresh beef was a little easier except Scotch. Mutton continued its downward 

 course in values, and the finest small Scotch carcases only fetched 6%d. and 

 English (}\d. per lb. Dutch was plentiful at 5^. to 6d. per lb. 



Fourth Week —The supplies at Islington on the 23rd were of much the 

 same medium quality which has been the rule all the autumn, no stall-fed 

 cattle as yet putting in an appearance. Although sales were effected 

 more easily there was no advance in prices. The best Shorthorns present 

 had still to be quoted at ys. yd. per 14-lb. stone, which compared badly with 

 all other markets giving an official return except Wakefield, which recorded 

 the same low rate. Ipswich was again the highest market in England for 

 Shorthorns, overtopping all others by gd. per stone. Three other markets 

 were 3^. per stone dearer on the week, viz. : — Leicester, Norwich and Leeds, 



