1909.] Live and Dead Meat Trade in August. 515 



beginning of the month, but, on the whole, it was scarcely so 

 depressed as that for grown sheep. There was a good demand for 

 half-breds at Lincoln and seme other places, but the average price 

 was a little lower than at the end of July. Prime lambs averaged S%d. 

 and second quality y^d. per lb. In the second week there was a further 

 fractional decline, followed in the next by a heavier one, amounting 

 to \d. per lb. for both first and second quality, taking the mean of 

 38 British markets. The last quotations of the month showed an 

 average of Sd. per lb, for first and yd. for second quality. 



Fat Pigs.- — There were no signs of any falling-off in the demand 

 for pigs in the first week, and bacon pigs fetched an average of ys. ^d. 

 per stone in 27 markets of England and Scotland for prime small 

 weights. Heavy pigs, however, were scarcely so dear. In spite of the 

 brisk demand the weather told against values, and these declined in 

 the second week to an average of 75. 2%d. for first and 6s. y\d. for second 

 quality. The following week prime small bacon pigs were id. per stone 

 cheaper, while heavy ones declined i^d. The prices for the month 

 finished at about ys. 2d. and 6s. 6§<3. per stone. 



Carcase Beef. — The trade in carcase beef was rather irregular, owing 

 partly to the weather and partly to the erratic character of supplies. 

 At the beginning of the month Scotch and English sides were firm, both 

 in London and the great provincial markets. Scotch short sides were 

 fetching y%d. per lb. in London and long sides 6f<2. for first quality. Eng- 

 lish was worth 5f<i. to 6d. per lb. The supplies of port killed were light, 

 and prices advanced ^d. per lb. in most places. American chilled was 

 \d. lower, but Argentine was scarce and firm in value. Frozen hind 

 quarters were fetching from 3§d. to 3§</., and fore quarters 2fd. to 2|^. 

 per lb. The second week witnessed what might be termed weather 

 markets, and for several days something approaching panic was 

 experienced by holders in London. Many severe losses were sustained 

 from tainting, and prices, of course, gave way all round, from \d. to 

 \d. per lb. In the third week there was no change in British beef, 

 but Deptford killed was \d. cheaper. American chilled was firm, and 

 Argentine, being scarce, advanced \d. per lb. 



During the last week Scotch short sides advanced to y\d. per lb., 

 long sides remained at 6\d. to 6\d., and English were firm at $\d. to 

 5fd., in London. Port killed finished at $\d. to 5fd., but the feature of 

 the week was the very serious advance in chilled beef, American rising 

 \d. and Argentine id. per lb. The top price per 8-lb. stone of American 

 was then 4s. md. for hind and 2s. Sd. for fore quarters, so that for the 

 whole side the value was only per lb. less than that of English, an 

 almost unprecedented occurrence. Even Argentine chilled was worth 

 up to 6\d. per lb. for hind and ^%d. for fore quarters. 



Veal. — The trade began very badly in London, and the difference 

 between values in the Central Market and those of Liverpool and Leeds 

 was even greater than usual. The highest price procurable in London 

 for English was 51s. 4<2. per cwt, while the Liverpool price was 675. Sd., 

 even second quality fetching 635. There was some recovery later, and 

 by the end of the month the London price was 6\d. per lb. for prime 

 veal. 



Carcase Mutton. — With the exception of a slightly firmer feeling in 

 the third week, the carcase mutton trade was extremely depressed 



