1909.] The Live and Dead Meat Trades in May. 251 



average rise of 2d. per 14 lb. on the week. At Ashford, Newport, and 

 Newcastle the price touched Ss. gd., or y\d. per lb., Norwich, Ipswich, 

 and Lincoln being lowest at Ss. per 14 lb. One of the most striking 

 features of the fat cattle trade of May was the relative cheapness of 

 these great markets in the Eastern counties, there being frequently a 

 good margin for dealers' profit between them and London, whereas for 

 a long period last year prices were far higher at Ipswich than at 

 Islington. 



London market on the 24th was very moderately supplied, there being 

 890 fat beasts on offer, most of which were of excellent quality. Yet the 

 trade was disappointing, and the market cleared very slowly at a reduc- 

 tion of fully \d. per lb. No market in England reported any advance 

 during the last week of the month, and a few, including Leicester, Nor- 

 wich, Peterborough, and Wakefield, were lower, but the great majority 

 reported a very good trade at former rates. The average price of prime 

 Shorthorns at 22 markets was 85. 3d. per 14 lb. stone, or about yd. per 

 lb., while second quality was ys. 6d., or about 6^d. per lb. During the 

 month prices were very firm. In fact, Shorthorns rose i\d. per stone 

 in the four weeks. 



With regard to comparative values of the various breeds of cattle, 

 Shorthorns are here taken because they are far more widely spread than 

 the other breeds, and therefore form a more reliable index of the market 

 movements than more local breeds ; but it may be mentioned that in the 

 last week of May Herefords in four markets averaged no less than 

 Ss. yd. per stone for first quality, Devons, 8s. qd. in five markets t and 

 Polled Scots, Ss. yd. in six markets. 



Fat Calves. — The trade for veal calves was fairly steady throughout 

 the month, and there was a good demand for the best quality, especially 

 in the great country markets. The average price for prime calves at 

 23 markets was 8fd. per lb., with rather a wide range of values. Ash- 

 ford (Kent) was the highest in the last week at 9!^., against y\d. in 

 London. Prices at Islington are dominated by the large supplies of 

 fine Dutch carcases always on offer at Smithfield. 



Fat Sheep. — The reports of the first week's markets showed a con- 

 tinuance of the upward movement which marked the month of April. 

 Nineteen out of 39 markets were described as showing more or less 

 improvement, against nine which were drooping. Taking the average 

 of 14 markets which quoted shorn " Downs," the price was within 

 a fraction of y\d. per lb., or very nearly \d. per lb. higher than 

 the last week in April. With the exception of Chichester, where 

 the term " Down " is applied to the Sussex breed, the dearest markets 

 for clipped tegs were Newcastle and Wellington, where they fetched S\d. 

 per lb., Bristol being the lowest at 6|d., while London was slightly below 

 the average at y\d. 



In the second week there came a lull in the trade, and reports spoke 

 of lower prices. There was a much larger supply at Islington on the 

 10th than usual, by fully 2,000 head, and this of course affected prices, 

 which had to be quoted lower, " Downs " of first quality going back 

 to y\d. per lb. In the country about 14 markets were reported as being 

 against sellers, and only six claimed any advance. Still, taking 15 

 markets where shorn " Downs " were quoted, the fall on the week only 

 averaged about one-third of a farthing per lb. Sheep classed as " Long- 



