1909.] The Provision Trade in February 



967 



Carcase Mutton. — The trade in carcase mutton has closely followed 

 that for live sheep, and requires but little comment. The month began 

 with another fall, and the finest Scotch sheep sold slowly at 6d. per lb., 

 small tegs 6\d., and English tegs at 5fd. These were extreme prices, 

 and very, fine quality Scotch sheep were easily obtainable at 5|d. There 

 was a better trade in the second week, and home killed mutton advanced 

 id. per lb. Frozen mutton was lower, and the finest New Zealand 

 only fetched 3§d. per lb., and best Argentine 3!^. The third week 

 was a dull one, and prices ruled about the same, but they returned 

 once more to the lowest point during the last week. It was admitted 

 that large quantities of mutton have lately had to be sold at far 

 lower prices than any quoted in order to make a clearance. During 

 the last few days some fine small lambs from the Wallingford district 

 have come in, and these have made is. per lb. 



Veal and Pork. — The trade for veal has ruled fair during February 

 for both English and Dutch of best quality, which has generally 

 fetched j£d. per lb., but much has been sold at 6d. and under. On 

 the 24th the writer witnessed the sale of five legs of Dutch at 3§<i. 

 per lb. The pork trade has ruled very steady at $%d. to 6^d. per lb. 

 with little fluctuation. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN FEBRUARY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — February is notoriously one of the worst months of the 

 twelve in the bacon trade, and this year has done nothing to retrieve its 

 reputation. This may be due, to a considerable extent, to the fact 

 that prices are on a fairly high level, Danish sides being about 10s. 

 per cwt. above the figure of 1908. But the absence of any really 

 healthy demand is the true source of the trouble, and in view of this 

 it is somewhat surprising that there has been no big break in the market. 

 Prices certainly have receded during the month, both in Irish and 

 Danish selections, but not to the extent that was confidently expected. 

 The cold weather has helped holders, who, knowing what the finished 

 article has cost to produce, have resisted very successfully the efforts 

 of buyers to force prices down. The strength of the American markets 

 has also had to be reckoned with. Hogs there are fully two dollars 

 higher than for the same period last year, and with a good home demand 

 the Chicago packer has been disinclined to ship his goods here. C.i.f. 

 prices are higher than spot values, and forward sales are practically 

 at a standstill. It is said that prices are bound to be higher in the 

 near future, and if stocks are any criterion, this prediction looks like 

 being* justified. The supply of stout and overweight meat is in excess 

 of the demand, but this is being gradually rectified. 



Canadian bacon is still in small supply, and is likely to continue so. 

 English hogs are quoted at gs. 6d. per score in the west, which is an 

 advance of 3d. on last month's prices. They are showing shorter, and 

 still higher rates are looked for. 



Cheese. — It is difficult to write cheerfully of the cheese trade, either 



