1910.] The Provision Trade in January. 957 



month. Prime Scotch, which began at 6\d., left off at J%d~., and West 

 Country English tegs advanced about hi. per lb., making 6\d. at the 

 finish. The season for Dutch mutton was nearly over. 



Frozen Mutton. — This trade was very quiet. Stocks in cold storage 

 are heavy and prices showed little change. 



Veal. — The trade for veal was very uneven and fluctuated consider- 

 ably from week to week. The best quality ranged from y^d. to S^d. 

 per lb., leaving off at the latter high figure in London. 



Pork. — A very firm trade all the month with moderate supplies, and 

 prices ranging between yd. and y\d. for best quality, with an occasional 

 Sd. for prime dairy-fed. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN JANUARY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — Arrivals have continued small, and trade for the entire 

 month has been slow, but in spite of the poor demand prices have 

 remained high, the curtailed consumption being more than sufficient to 

 prevent any accumulation of stocks on hand. The arrivals from Denmark 

 have been below the average, but have not cleared readily. At the end 

 of the month the heavy snowstorms in that country interfered with the 

 arrival of pigs at the factories, as well as the shipments of cured meat, 

 so the quantities arriving will be still further reduced. Canadian bacon 

 has reached us in slightly increased quantities, but there still exists 

 in that country a shortage in the supply of hogs, with high prices ; 

 and consequently the curers report that the prices realised in England 

 on the cured product are still unremunerative. 



The abnormal conditions continue in the United States of America. 

 During the second week of the month the top price of hogs reached 

 $9.05, which is reported to be the highest price for thirty years. The 

 same week last year the top price was $6.30, and $4.55 two years ago, 

 or about half the present cost of raw material. Stocks on hand in the 

 American packing houses are said to be 50 per cent, less than last 

 year, when they were also small for the winter season. As a conse- 

 quence, arrivals into this country from America have been very short, 

 but more than sufficient to fill all requirements. Packers report that 

 they cannot replace present stocks except at several shillings per 

 hundredweight advance. The recent boycott in the United States of 

 fresh beef, so as to force down prices, has had a bearish effect on hog 

 products, and hogs are slightly cheaper, but it is thought that the effect 

 will be only of a temporary nature. Private cables received at the end 

 of the month advise that the American Government Bureau reports a 

 shortage of 6| million hogs, as compared with twelve months ago. 



Arrivals of bacon from Russia show an increase, and the quality is 

 reported to have improved. This is taking the place of American, 

 especially amongst dealers usually handling American singed sides. 



English pigs continue to advance in price on account of scarcity, 

 and curers say that they cannot secure a corresponding advance from 

 their customers. Killings in Ireland have also been small for the 

 month. 



Butter. — The month opened with a moderate trade at steady prices, 



