690 Live and Dead Meat Trade in October, [nov., 



and Scotland. The top price has scarcely exceeded 8%d. per lb. in 

 England and 8fd. in Scotland, while the general averages have only 

 varied about \&. per lb. The highest were for the last two weeks, 

 when they were 8d. for first and yd. for second quality. 



Fat Sheep. — With good crops of roots to feed off and little tempta- 

 tion to send to market, farmers have still been sending forward large 

 supplies, which have been more than equal to the demand. Prices 

 have been very little changed, however, except for fat ewes, which 

 have met with more inquiry. There is no doubt that, on the whole, 

 the tone of trade was much less depressed and sheep were more saleable, 

 although only in a few cases here and there could any actual advance 

 be established. 



In the first week the average for prime Down wethers in all the 

 markets officially recording them was %d. per lb. higher than the 

 lowest point touched, viz., yd. per lb., which occurred in September, 

 but second quality remained at 6\d. Neither were the Long wools 

 affected by the slight improvement, their average being 6^d. for first 

 and 5^d. for second quality. There was no change worth mentioning 

 in the second or following weeks, Down wethers remaining at above 

 values. Longwools also remained unchanged for first quality, but in 

 the third week their average for second quality improved rather 

 suddenly by no less than fd. per lb. In the last week the average for 

 Longwools was 6%d. and 6d. per lb. The advance in heavy Longwoof 

 wethers was probably due to the same cause as that which gave rise 

 to quite a revival in the fat ewe trade, which class of mutton, of 

 course, represents the third quality, quoted in the returns. For weeks 

 fat ewes were reported from many quarters as unsaleable, and the 

 common quotation of ^d. per lb. was often admittecTlb be nominal. 

 But about the middle of the month an advance in frozen mutton 

 occurred, and this had an immediate effect on the ewe trade, though 

 not nearly so great a one in the live-stock markets as in those for 

 dead meat. It was highly significant that one of the largest firms 

 in the frozen meat trade should send a representative to purchase 

 ewes in the Somersetshire markets, but farmers, being apparently 

 unaware of the movement, failed to make the most of the position, and 

 quotations only advanced about \d. per lb. for live ewes. 



The month of October marks the beginning of a new season in the 

 supply of English mutton, and the bulk of the sheep on offer have 

 lately been of a rough character, especially for the London trade. 

 Longwoolled two-year-old wethers of 90 to 100 lb. in weight, and Irish 

 Longwools have formed a large portion of the Islington supply, and 

 for these there is scarcely any demand in London shops. At the first 

 market in October, however, some very fine Hampshire tegs put in an 

 appearance. Their weight would be about 56 lb., and they were just 

 what appeals to the town butcher. Yet this first lot were sold with 

 difficulty at y\d. per lb., so lifeless was the demand on that day. In 

 the following week they attracted more notice, and although they 

 were only quoted at y%d. per lb., disinterested observers calculated 

 that when slaughtered they would be found to have cost Sd. or even 

 more. Young tegs of this class will soon be replacing the coarser and 

 older sheep, and the quotations for first quality, especially at Islington, 

 ought to improve during November. 



