i9i i] 



The Provision Trade in July. 



443 



American beef, which have met a steady demand at 5fd. per lb. for the 

 best and 5^. for second quality. 



Chilled Beef. — United States chilled has been forward in such 

 small quantities as to be scarcely worth quoting - , but Argentina has 

 kept the market more than well supplied. This article, unlike "hard" 

 or frozen beef, has to be sold at what it will fetch, and the morning 

 quotations have often during this month borne no relation to the prices 

 accepted, perforce, later in the day. The highest price for best hind- 

 quarters was 4|<2. per lb., and the lowest 33d., while the value of 

 forequarters has been an unknown quantity. On the last Wednesday 

 they were quoted at ifd per lb. ; and a few days previously a salesman 

 offered to clear out at i^<2., but the offer was refused, although the 

 meat was sound. 



Frozen Beef. — This article was held back, and transactions were 

 almost nominal. Hindquarters were quoted at 2s. 2d. to 2s. $d. per 

 8 lb. stone. 



Carcass Mutton — Fresh Killed. — The average prices were : Scotch, 

 yd. and 6%d. ; English, 6\d. and 5f ; and Dutch, 6d. and 5! d. per lb. 

 for first and second quality, in the London Central Market. 



Carcass Lamb. — There were good supplies of Scottish lamb, which 

 is now the most valuable, owing to its small size. All British lamb 

 has sold very slowly at falling" prices. It has rang-ed in London from 

 Sid. at the beginning to y\d. at the end of the month, averaging- Sd. 

 and 7^d. per lb. for the first and second quality, but much has been 

 sold at far less money. The finest New Zealand has fetched 5|d. per lb. 



Frozen Mutton. — Frozen mutton lost most of its recent advance, 

 declining \d. per lb. during the month. The best New Zealand 

 averaged under 4<5. per lb., and Argentine and Australian about 3^. 



Veal. — The trade was irregular. In the third week choice English 

 fetched Sd. per lb., and the next only yd. The average for the month 

 was y\d. for prime and 6§d. for second quality. Lower qualities sold 

 at extremely low rates. 



Pork. — A very small trade, but some business passing each week. 

 Best English varied from ^d. to 6d. per lb., and Dutch id. less. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN JULY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — The month of July opened with business quiet; dealers 

 had bought fairly heavily for the holidays, and consequently had their 

 stocks to work upon. The continuance of the hot weather, although 

 increasing the consumption, also caused dealers to keep their stocks 

 as low as possible, in order to prevent the possibility of losses through 

 depreciation of the quality of their holdings from the effects of the 

 weather. Long sides fluctuated during the month, and the closing 

 prices showed a slight fall. The fine summer weather experienced 

 throughout July caused a good demand for all descriptions of hams, 

 and although prices eased a little after the Coronation demand had 

 been filled, the losses had been more than covered by the end of the 

 month. 



