The Provision Trade in December. 



871 



for English. In the second week, there was really no prime English 

 on offer, and Dutch was quoted a little lower, and trade was limited and 

 very quiet, as the month drew to a close. Two extraordinary carcases 

 of veal were shown, one from Holland, and one from France. They 

 were said to weigh about 34 stones each (8 lbs.) and were sold at 

 is. per lb. 



Carcase Mutton. — During the first few days, an effort was made 

 to obtain higher prices for British mutton, which succeeded to the extent 

 of about Id. per lb., but even then, Scotch only realised $^d. to 6d. 

 per lb., and English $ld. to 5f <2. ; Dutch fetched 5<1, as the top price; 

 and New Zealand frozen ^\d. per lb. Lamb was selling at %\d. for the 

 best Australian, which was about \&. per lb. less than a year ago. 

 After a fall to the old level the following week, mutton advanced about 

 a farthing on the 20th, but, like beef, was cheaper with the change of 

 weather. 



Pork. — The trade was remarkably steady throughout, and prices 

 showed extremely little variation in London, ruling from y\d. to y\d. 

 per lb. for the best English. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN DECEMBER. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — Wholesale provision merchants and retailers have not been 

 sorry to see the end of the year 1909. The business throughout has 

 been very trying, on account of abnormal conditions, and the 

 exceptionally high prices prevailing for all hog products, through the 

 scarcity of pigs in practically all countries at the same time. 



The working classes, who were large consumers of American bacon 

 in the past, have now been forced to find a cheaper food, on account of 

 the high prices, and in consequence, the year's returns of those handling 

 this article show a large reduction in the volume of business transacted. 



Early in December the demand was exceedingly small at all points, 

 but by the middle of the month dealers experienced their usual 

 Christmas demand, although quantities were below the average. Irish 

 and Continental bacon did not show much fluctuation in price until after 

 the holidays, when quotations were mostly cheaper, closing with a 

 range of from 64s. to 745. (green). 



Arrivals from America were somewhat curtailed, but were quite 

 sufficient for the reduced demand, and at the end of the year, spot 

 stocks were a little larger. The latest advices from the United States 

 of America indicate that the present high range of prices will continue 

 well into the New Year. From November 1st to the middle of 

 December, hogs packed in all the western centres of the U.S.A. show 

 a reduction of over a million carcases, in comparison with the same 

 period last year, the figures being 2,770,000 against 3,865,000. This 

 means that the American packers have very small stocks of cured meats 

 on hand. The top price of hogs was $8.70 against $5.80 at the same 

 time last year, and $4.60 two years back. 



Arrivals from Canada continue more free, and spot prices were 2s., to 

 35. per cwt. easier at the end of the month, from 645. to 685., which 

 Christmas, the average stood at 8 d. and j\d. for first and second 

 is about 155. to ijs. per cwt. over last year's current prices. Canadian 



