5i6 



The Provision Trade in August. 



[SEPT., 



throughout. Of course, the hot weather aggravated the situation, but 

 the impression has become much stronger than it was some months 

 ago that markets are overweighted by the excessive supplies of frozen 

 carcases. Values were very weak at the opening, Scotch selling at 6d. to 

 6ld. per lb. and English at $%d. to 6d., while Dutch was making 5^. 

 to $^d. These were the nominal quotations, but with the best New 

 Zealand at 2%d., much lower figures had to be accepted to force sales. 

 As the month advanced there was still further weakness, and on the 

 25th the best Scotch was easily procurable at 6d. per lb. The slightly 

 better feeling in the third week was attributed to the small arrivals of 

 Dutch. 



Lamb. — The value of lamb has been very low throughout. British 

 started at yd. per lb. for prime, with plenty of excellent quality at 6d. 

 In the second week there was a decline of \d. per lb., which was 

 recovered during the third week, but only temporarily, and at the end 

 of the month prices remained at the lowest point. The finest New 

 Zealand varied from ^\d. at the beginning to ^\d. at the close. 



Pork. — The transactions in pork were, of course, very small, and 

 the weather presented great difficulty. Supplies have been fairly 

 regular, and the top quotation has varied from 6d. to 6^d. per lb. during 

 the hottest month of the year. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN AUGUST. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — At the opening of the month the demand continued slow, 

 but the improved weather conditions gave an all-round impetus to busi- 

 ness, both wholesalers and retailers being short of stock, although 

 the continuance of abnormally high prices has considerably curtailed 

 the consumption, bacon being looked upon by many as a luxury rather 

 than an everyday article of diet, as is the case when the cost is less. 



During the third week of the month, when the weather was unusually 

 hot, there was quite a run on all hog products, especially hams, resulting 

 in smart advances in prices. American hams in some cases showed an 

 advance of 55. to 6s. per cwt. on the month, and all other American 

 cuts advanced from 2s. to 5s. per cwt., on account of extreme scarcity. 

 The arrivals from America are still unusually small, and the latest 

 advices from that side point to further restrictions in the shipments 

 for some weeks to come, possibly until the end of October, as their 

 home demand continues good in spite of such high prices. Prices for 

 hogs in the United States remain at a very high level, the top price 

 for the month being $8.30. 



Danish bacon, on the contrary, was selling for less money by the 

 end of the month, the demand being considerably less for this class 

 of meat, as in very hot weather dealers are afraid to handle such lightly 

 cured bacon. In order to effect a weekly clearance, irregular prices were 

 accepted by the Danish agents. 



This timidity of dealers in handling Continental produce improved 

 the demand for English, Irish, and Canadian bacon, all being a more 

 reliable cure. The arrivals from Canada continue to be unusually small, 

 with no immediate sign of larger shipments. The Canadian home trade 

 is good, and pigs are still very scarce and dear, although they were a, 

 little cheaper towards the end of the month.. 



