io44 Live and Dead Meat Trade in February, [march, 



English markets stood at 8s. 7.\d. for first, and ys. 6\d. for second 

 quality. Perhaps the most erratic market was the Metropolitan at 

 Islington, which is always very sensitive to influences not very 

 tangible. For instance, there was a bad market on the 7th, for which 

 there was no apparent cause, except the damp and warm weather. The 

 best Shorthorns, which a week before would have realised 95. per 

 stone, dropped suddenly to 8 s. 2d., a fall of \d. per lb. in a week, 

 but nothing of this sort occurred in any of the country markets. Other 

 breeds showed much smaller variations throughout, Devons remaining 

 especially steady at an average of about 85. 5^. A very few choice 

 Aberdeen Angus appeared each week at Islington, and realised high 

 prices, varying from 8s. gd. to gs. qd. per stone. Trade in Scotland 

 was rather slow in the last week, and 405. per live cwt. even for the 

 best Black Polls was scarcely exceeded. 



Veal Calves. — There was an increased demand for fat calves, which 

 is usually the case at the approach of spring, and, although there were 

 more on offer, prices were firm, the weekly averages varying but little. 

 These have been from 8^d. to 8%d. per lb. for first, and y\d. to y^d. for 

 second quality. Derby and Preston were, as usual, amongst the best 

 markets for calves, while London, owing to the good supplies of prime 

 small Dutch carcases at Smithfield, was among the cheapest. 



Fat Sheep. — Contrary to the expectations of many persons engaged 

 in the trade, there has been a very solid appreciation in the values of 

 sheep, and prices at the end of the month nearly approached those 

 prevailing two years ago. The net advance on best small Down 

 tegs during the month was fully \d. per lb., and the average of twenty 

 English markets in the last week was only a very small fraction 

 under 8|cZ. per lb. No less than eleven leading markets of the week 

 ending February 24th showed higher quotations for Downs, and 

 twenty-seven were reported as generally better, with only one lower. The 

 fact that Longwools averaged within \d. per lb. of the price of the 

 prime Downs was indicative of the keen demand now existing for 

 mutton. Though the rise has been general over the country, there 

 was a remarkable difference in its extent at the various centres. 

 Taking the list of prices for Dbwns in the last week, we find that 

 at Salford they were quoted as high as md. per lb. for first, and gd. 

 for second quality, while at Hereford and Wellington the highest price 

 was 8|d., and even at London was only 8\d. A margin of ifd. per lb. 

 between markets at no great difference apart is almost startling, as 

 it represents no less than gs. to 10s. per head. Cheviots and Crossbreds 

 also touched lod. per lb. at Preston and Salford. 



Fat Pigs. — There was no weakening in the trade for fat pigs, 

 taking the whole month, although a slight check occurred in the week 

 ending on the 10th. This was fully recovered, and values finished at 

 the highest point for bacon pigs. In 31 markets of England and 

 Scotland the average was a little over ys. ojd. per stone for first, and 

 ys. 3d. for second quality. 



Carcase Beef — British. — Scotch beef, especially short sides, has been 

 a very quiet trade at prices somewhat below those of January. These 

 began at yd. per lb., and declined to 6fd., while long sides gave way 

 a similar amount, and during the last two weeks their value in London 

 was 6\d. for first, and 6d. for second quality. Some Norfolk beef of 



