868 Live and Dead Meat Trade in December, [jan., 



average being 8s. 3d., for first, and 75. 7§d. for second quality. Devons, 

 on the contrary, being well brought out, showed an advance, and 

 averaged 8s. J^d. and 75. lod. Runts fell off a little, and only averaged 

 8s. and 75. $d., and Scots were 8s. 3d. and 75. 8d. A few of the 

 earliest of the Christmas markets were held in Wales and the West 

 of England, and the quality of the supplies was generally reported as 

 being- very good. At Dorchester, the price per head ranged up to 

 £32 10s. The markets showing improvement were Hull, Nottingham, 

 Preston, and Dorchester, but Bristol, Leicester, Ipswich and Norwich 

 were lower. 



The Christmas market at Islington on December 13th was successful 

 both in numbers and quality, also in the existence of a good demand. 

 There were about 450 capital Polled Scots which sold at 95. to 95. yd. 

 per stone, the latter being the highest price in any English market 

 reported in the official returns, but some onlookers were of opinion 

 that, in a few cases, that price was exceeded. Prices of this breed, per 

 head, ranged from ^25 to £3$. These were, of course, the pick of 

 the market, but the Devons made a good second and included a large 

 number of first-rate specimens, which realised up to ^34 each, or from 

 gs. to gs. qd. per stone, dead weight. Herefords were fairly supplied, 

 but they were in no way remarkable, and 8s. gd. was about their top 

 figure. Welsh Runts were very numerous, about 700 head being on 

 offer. As much as ^28 was made by one or two, but the general finish 

 was not particularly good, and the price was from ys. lod. to 85. $d. 

 per stone. Shorthorns were good, but not specially so, and they could 

 not be quoted higher than the previous week. They represented, in 

 fact, the ordinary condition of supplies during the Norfolk season, and 

 they realised from js. lod. to 8s. $d. per stone. A similar tone pre- 

 vailed at the Christmas markets throughout the country, but accounts 

 varied greatly as to quality. On the whole, however, it is certain that 

 the Christmas displays were above the average. In twenty-four 

 markets the average of Shorthorns was 8s. $d. and js. 7fd., a rise on 

 first quality of 2\d. per stone and 2\d. on second. The Hereford 

 average was 8s. ^\d. and js. io\d., an advance of i|d. and 2§d. 

 respectively. Devons averaged 8s. y\d. and 75. iod., which was 

 practically no change from the previous week. Runts showed a more 

 striking advance on ordinary rates, their average coming out well at 

 8s. and Js. 8d., which was a rise of $\d. and 33d. per stone. Scots 

 averaged 8s. gd. and 8s. id., which was an advance of $d. per stone. 

 The general opinion was that cattle of the ordinary quality were no 

 dearer, but that the apparent advance was owing to the special Christmas 

 condition of the animals. 



The extra demand for Christmas having been supplied, there was 

 a great falling off in the numbers and quality of cattle in the week 

 immediately before the holidays. Prices, of course, declined, as was 

 only to be expected, and the Shorthorn average went down to 8s. 2d. 

 and js. 4|d. in sixteen markets. Herefords showed a heavy fall, and 

 averaged 8s. id. and js. $d. — a reduction of 33d. and 5|d. Devons also 

 declined, but less heavily, their first quality averaging 8s. 6d. and second 

 js. 8d. The average for Runts was 7s. n^d. and 7s. 5<i., or a fall of 5fd. 

 and 3d., and Scots realised 85. 5|d. and 8s. 2d., giving way 3d. per stone 

 for first quality. The individual markets recording a decline from 



