1909.] 



The Provision Trade in May. 



253 



the best imported beef, both alive and dead, but that of lower grades was 

 more than equal to the demand. 



Carcase Mutton. — There was a considerable rise in the value of 

 British mutton in the first few days, Scotch and English tegs advancing 

 \d. per lb. Very small Scotch, in some instances, went up to Sd., but fine 

 wethers were worth yhd. English tegs realised up to yd. at Smithfield. 

 These prices, however, were of brief duration, and fell the following 

 week. There was a partial recovery in the third week, but, as with 

 beef, the trade suffered very severely during the closing week from 

 the sudden heat, when prices gave way and sellers accepted any 

 reasonable offers to clear. 



Carcase Lamb. — The trade was very irregular and uncertain, and 

 complaints of the weakness of the demand were very common in London. 

 At the beginning of the month prices at Smithfield were lod. to io^d. 

 per lb., and this was the cheapest market quoted in the official returns. 

 Prices remained fairly steady till the 20th, but On the 26th business in 

 lamb at the Central market was almost at a standstill, the best English 

 being quoted as low as S^d. per lb ; the finest frozen lamb was worth 

 5|rf. per lb. 



Veal. — With abundant supplies of Dutch, of extremely various quality, 

 London prices were much lower than those ruling in the great provincial 

 markets. In the first week first quality English was worth 60s. Sd. per 

 cwt. in London, against 79s. zjd. at Liverpool, 746-. Sd. at Manchester, 

 and 655. 4c?. at Birmingham. Prices varied from yd. to y\d. per lb. 

 for prime English at Smithfield during the remainder of the month. 



Pork. — The trade, though in smaller compass, was very steady at 

 5fd. to 6hd. per lb., supplies being very moderate. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN MAY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — During the month of May, all markets have experienced 

 abnormal conditions. The arrivals from all points have been below the 

 average, and a genuine scarcity has come about, resulting in a steady 

 advance in prices, so that by the end of the month all hog products 

 are on a high level, which has caused a falling off in the consumption. 

 Prices generally show advances over those prevailing at the same time 

 last year of from 10s. to 14s. per cwt., and in the case of Canadian 

 singed sides the extreme premium over last year is as much as 21s. 

 per cwt. 



Advices from America report that hogs are arriving at their markets 

 a little more freely, but the home demand has so increased that the 

 surplus for export is very small, and is likely to be until the summer 

 season demand is over. 



The arrivals from Canada show a still further diminution this 

 month, and English dealers who for some years past have been regu- 

 larly using Canadian singed sides are now educating their buyers to 

 replace them with either Irish or Danish, and some are paying a little 

 higher price, and are handling English. Danish has not participated 

 to the same extent in the advanced prices during the month, as the 

 unusually warm weather, especially during the last few days of May, 



