872 The Provision Trade in December. [Jan., 1910 



hogs are still in very small supply, although the arrivals at the packing- 

 centres were a little more plentiful. 



Lard continues very high in price, American refined in pails realising 

 around 705. per cwt. early in December, but it had dropped to 665. by 

 the end of the month, this figure being about 155. per cwt. over last 

 year's price. 



The month's demand for English and Irish bacon has been fair. 

 Curers still find it difficult to secure sufficient pigs. 



Cheese.^— The demand for the entire month was very slow. Dealers 

 continued to adopt the hand-to-mouth policy in their purchasing, which 

 is disappointing to the large holders, as at present prices there is no 

 profit for the importer, and in a good many cases transactions show 

 losses of from 2s. to 3s. per cwt. These conditions have been brought 

 about by the large make of cheese in New Zealand. The arrivals during 

 December were 20,529 crates, say about 41,000 cheese, and the shipments 

 on passage are largely in excess of those at the same time last year. 

 During 1909 we received 298,339 crates from New Zealand, against 

 200,217 in 1908. (Mostly two cheeses in a crate). 



At the end of the month, the estimated stocks of Canadian at the 

 three principal distributing centres (London, Liverpool and Bristol) were 

 377,000 against 368,000 last year, and 350,000 two years age. 



Holders of cheese in Canada report smaller stocks and very firm 

 markets. Unless our markets advance, Canadian shippers will have 

 to face some serious losses on their holdings. The winter make has 

 been very small, and the United States continued to take the Canadian 

 cream, which can be shipped over the border at a tariff of 5 cents per 

 gallon, against 6 cents per lb. on manufactured butter, equal to 28s. 

 per cwt. One gallon of cream makes about 3 lb. of butter. 



A very fair trade passed in English cheese, the demand being chiefly 

 for the lowest priced parcels. Stocks in some districts were reported to 

 be less than last year. 



Butter.- — With prices reasonable, there was a fair consumptive 

 demand throughout the month, but an entire lack of speculation, as, 

 with free arrivals and large shipments close at hand and on passage, 

 dealers buy as required, absolutely refusing to anticipate their require- 

 ments. Danish and Swedish were about 12s. 6d. to 205. above last 

 year's prices, and best Colonial rose from 2s. to 45. per cwt. 



There were no imports from Canada or the United States, their prices 

 being far above an export basis. In the latter country, a price equal 

 to 170-?. per cwt. is now being paid for best fresh selections. 



Advices from both New Zealand and Australia report the weather 

 conditions favourable, and large quantities of butter and cheese being 

 manufactured for the English markets. The arrivals of butter into 

 London during December from Australia and New Zealand only, were 

 61,485 boxes (56 lb. nett each) in excess of the same month in 1908. 



Stocks of Irish butter were in very small compass by the end of the 

 month. 



Eggs. — Eggs were again high in price, with a continued scarcity of 

 fresh English, although there were more on offer than in November. 

 There was a good demand for best selections of pickled. In Montreal, 

 new-laid eggs have been making 40 cents (15. Sd.) per dozen on the 

 market. 



