1909.] Live and Dead Meat Trade in September. 603 



altogether the cattle trade throughout the country opened quiet and 

 rather featureless. 



Several markets were quoted a little lower the second week, amongst 

 them being such important ones as Hull, Liverpool, Norwich, Preston, 

 Wellington, and York. On the other hand, a few were dearer, especially 

 for first quality, and thus the average price of Shorthorns in 22 markets 

 was only %d. per stone lower for first quality. The Hereford average 

 improved by fd. per stone in the second week, but Devons declined 

 to the extent of over i^d. Welsh Runts, which always come out better 

 as the grazing season advances, were quoted 2%d. per stone dearer, and 

 Polled Scots over id. dearer. These fluctuations in the various breeds 

 are given here, not with any intention of showing their comparative 

 merit, but merely as emphasising the curious differences in local 

 markets, for all these varieties are more or less local, except the Short- 

 horn. London at this period last year was quoting Shorthorns lower 

 than almost any other market, but now it is well up to the average, 

 and, as its supplies are drawn from widely separated districts, this may 

 be taken as pointing to a better grazing season this summer than in 

 1908. 



The third week brought a continued and more clearly defined fall 

 in prices. That in Shorthorns was small, only amounting, on the 

 average, to fd. per stone for first, and id. for second, quality, but that 

 on all other breeds was somewhat more. Scotland is not included in 

 this statement, for Dundee, Inverness, Elgin, Perth, and Stirling all 

 reported an improved trade, and some very high prices were quoted per 

 live cwt., Glasgow touching 425. 6d., and Perth 455., for some fine 

 Aberdeen-Angus bullocks. 



The last Monday's market of the month at Islington was well 

 supplied with 1,230 fat cattle, Shorthorns, Herefords, and Welsh being 

 in about equal numbers, and the average quality was far better than 

 that of the supplies of a year ago. It was a slow trade, and y\d. per lb. 

 was the top price for cattle of any breed. For Shorthorns 6§d. was 

 rather exceptional, many more being sold at 6\d. On the corresponding 

 day last year the top price of this breed was 6f <2. Fat cows were excep- 

 tionally slow of sale, owing, it was said, chiefly to the heavy arrivals 

 of Canadian " Ranchers," which specially compete with this class of 

 beef. 



Veal Calves. — The trade for fat calves was, on the whole, quiet and 

 without special feature, commencing with an average of Sd. per lb. 

 for first, and yd. for second quality in 26 markets in Great Britain. 

 Prices varied extremely in different parts of England. Quotations at 

 Ashford were g\d. per lb., and gd. at Chichester, while at Bristol, Derby, 

 and Shrewsbury the highest price was yd. The average in the suc- 

 ceeding weeks only declined Id. per lb. 



Fat Sheep. — It was generally supposed that the lowest possible values 

 for British sheep had been touched in August, but September witnessed 

 a yet lower level. As indicated by the preliminary statement of the 

 Agricultural Returns, nearly a quarter of a million sheep, which, in 

 the ordinary course, would have been sold at the close of the turnip 

 season, were still on hand at the end of June, and these have since 

 been a dead weight on the market, preventing any improvement in 



