1909.] The Provision Trade in December. 



797 



for dairy cows, though far smaller than it used to be, still attracts a 

 fairly representative supply, and sometimes much higher prices are 

 made than can be judiciously quoted. At any market during December 

 a moderately good cow sold readily at £20 to ^23, but occasionally as 

 much as ^27 was realised for specially good cows with fine udders, and 

 that without the calf. With regard to dry store cattle and sheep there 

 is very little to report, as comparatively few change hands during 

 December. At great store-stock markets, such as Norwich and Shrews- 

 bury, good store cattle have found plenty of buyers at full prices, and 

 as much as 33s. gd. per live cwt. has been paid for Shorthorn bullocks. 

 The demand for store sheep has continued very restricted. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN DECEMBER. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon.-— During the past month, trading on the whole has shown an 

 improvement, although the Christmas demand for both bacon and hams 

 was disappointing. Orders were general, but small in amount, buyers 

 continuing their hand to mouth policy. Irish bacon was offered freely 

 early in the month at prices which secured business in competition with 

 Danish. The latter was at times somewhat below the usual standard of 

 quality, and arrivals being large, prices were reduced in the buyers' 

 favour. 



Canadian bacon continues to arrive in small quantities, with a pre- 

 ponderance of light weights. The packers are continuing to sustain 

 serious losses on account of the low prices realised for their produce, as 

 hogs are still dear in Canada owing to their scarcity. This industry is 

 reported to be in a critical position, as Danish bacon is such a formidable 

 rival in this country, the Danes apparently being able to dispose of 

 their produce in the English markets at prices which have for some time 

 past shown losses to the Canadian packers of from 35. to 55. per cwt. 



Prices of hogs in the United States remain at a high level in spite of 

 large arrivals. Stocks of cured meats are large at all points, and with 

 the lower prices on the English markets, the home buyers refuse to 

 contract except to a very small extent, as, in their opinion, the Americans 

 will have to reduce their ideas of value. Up to 12th December, packing 

 for the winter season in Chicago alone showed an increase of 494,000 

 hogs, as compared with the same time last year. Hams were cheaper, 

 especially towards the end of the month, which has resulted in a larger 

 consumption. 



There has been a good demand for English bacon throughout the 

 month, and prices for English pigs have been about the same as last 

 year. There are fewer pigs now. on offer in the country, and the pros- 

 pects are good for breeders, who are likely to obtain better prices for 

 some time to come, unless the imports from Denmark should reach the 

 level of the early months of last year (considerably above the normal), 

 which would again reduce the prices obtainable for English and Irish 

 bacon. 



Cheese. — The demand during the past month has again been dis- 

 appointing, with prices showing only slight variations, and these chiefly 



