1909.] 



The Live and Dead Meat Trade. 



77 



and with moderate supplies the average price of first quality at twenty- 

 four markets was about gd. per lb. 



Fat Pigs.— The pig trade was firm throughout the month, and 

 bacon pigs especially met with a good demand. Ten shillings per 

 score was never complained of, even in the times when farm produce 

 generally was far higher than it is at present, and that price has 

 been equalled or exceeded at no less than ten leading markets during 

 March. 



Carcase Beef. — The trade for carcase beef has been steady on the 

 whole, particularly for Scotch, English, and port-killed. The supplies 

 of Scotch at the London central market have only been moderate, and 

 prices have remained remarkably steady from week to week. Those 

 of English have been about normal, while port-killed American 

 deliveries have been below the average. On more than one occasion 

 Deptford market was closed for want of supplies, and the price 

 at Birkenhead has often been too high to leave a margin of profit 

 in the London market. There has been very little difference in the 

 value of this and English beef, and the best quality of each has been 

 about 5fd. to 6d. per lb., while Scotch whole sides have fetched 6%d. 

 and short sides 6\d. In comparing these values it should always be 

 borne in mind that it is rare to see any of the very finest English 

 beef at Smithfield, just as it is to find prime Hampshire or Southdown 

 teg mutton. There has been more fluctuation in the value of chilled 

 beef, and the average of both North American and Argentine has 

 been declining, and is now relatively low. The best Argentine hind 

 quarters have been reduced to 4 J. per lb. and fore quarters to 2§d., 

 while the finest States hind quarters have fallen to sfd., and fore 

 quarters to 3§d. per lb. 



The trade in frozen meat has been extremely dull. It is curious to 

 notice that the quotations for this beef all through the month have been 

 the same for New Zealand, Australian, and Argentine, which is most 

 unusual. The truth is that the business done has, at times, been 

 almost nominal. The trade has been very bad, and there is no doubt 

 that many sales have been made at lower figures than those officially 

 acknowledged. The quotations given have been too near those of 

 chilled to justify entire confidence in their being a true record of 

 actual business. Between the values of beef imported dead and alive 

 there is a very wide margin, and this suggests an inquiry as to the 

 reason of the falling off in the supplies of the latter. 



Carcase Mutton. — There was at times a slight rally in the price of 

 mutton, and on one or two occasions an advance of Id. per lb. was 

 established for the best qualities, notably of small Scotch tegs. This 

 temporary improvement, however, was quickly followed by a relapse. 

 The finest Scotch has rarely fetched more than 6\d. per lb., and the 

 best English on offer has touched 53d., while large numbers of West 

 Country tegs have been forced off at $d. per lb. 



The carcase lamb trade has fluctuated very considerably. In the 

 first week, choice " Wallingfords " fetched as much as is. per lb., 

 but the following week the cold weather paralysed the trade, the 

 demand was almost nil, and the same quality was quoted at yd. Later 



