1909.] The Provision Trade in July. 429 



English second quality was fetching more than the American by Id. 

 per lb. That London Central Market prices are no safe guide to the 

 relative quality or value of English as compared with port-killed 

 American, is shown by the prices realised for them at our other great 

 markets. For instance, in the week ending July 22nd, English sides 

 were fetching more than port-killed at Birmingham by 15. 2d. ; at 

 Leeds, 45. 8d., and at Manchester, 25. qd. per cwt. 



Carcass Mutton. — The demand for Scotch and English mutton has 

 been sluggish throughout the month. Scotch started at yd. to y\d. 

 per lb., and English at 6§d., in London. The latter was fetching \d. 

 more at Birmingham and Leeds, but only 6d. at Liverpool. Dutch 

 was selling at 5^. to 6d. per lb. All these prices were just about main- 

 tained till the end of the month. With regard to frozen, trade was 

 decidedly against sellers, and those who speculated in this article are 

 known to have incurred heavy losses. In the first week the best New 

 Zealand was worth 3^., in the second week it fell to 3d., and the last 

 two weeks it stood at 2%d., and lower qualities at 2d. per lb. This 

 extreme cheapness is beginning to be recognised as the chief cause 

 of the lower price of home-grown. 



Carcass Lamb. — Complaints of the very poor demand for British 

 lamb were very general. In the first week the extreme top price of 

 English in London was y\d. per lb., with excellent quality selling at 

 yd., and sales being difficult even at that figure. In the second week 

 none was fetching more than yd., but this reduction only held for one 

 week, and y\d. was the value of prime small carcasses during the 

 remainder of the month. The value of frozen was quite as much 

 depressed as that of mutton. In May the best Canterbury was making 

 $\d. y and started in July at 4fd., but declined as the month advanced 

 to 4cZ. per lb., while ^\d. was the value of the best Australian. It 

 would be strange indeed if the value of home-grown was not affected 

 by such extremely low rates for an article which appears to satisfy 

 such a large number of consumers. 



Veal. — The trade for veal in London was very dragging, and 

 British was only fetching 6d. per lb. for the first three weeks in July. 

 In the last week there was an improvement of about \d. per lb. Con- 

 siderably higher prices were again realised at Leeds, Liverpool, Man- 

 chester, and Birmingham. 



Pork. — The demand in London was very small, but supplies being 

 moderate, prices were firm. The first two weeks the London price 

 was $\d. to 6d., but advanced to 6d. to 6%d. per lb. before the close. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN JULY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — Although prices generally advanced during the month of 

 July on account of the continued small supplies, the trading has again 

 been very disappointing to all concerned. The wet and unseasonable 

 weather has curtailed consumption in all districts, but more especially 

 at seaside resorts. Arrivals from Denmark are still on the short side, 

 but have, nevertheless, been fully equal to the demands of the reduced 

 consumption. 



