7<d8 Live and Dead Meat Trade in October, [nov., 



Fat Sheep. — There was great dullness in the sheep trade, and prices 

 remained on a dead-level throughout the month. There were the usual 

 local fluctuations of about \d. per lb., according to supplies, but the 

 average prices for the whole of England never varied at all, and were 

 also almost exactly the same as in September. In about nineteen 

 English markets, Downs again averaged *]\d., 6%d., and 5^. per lb. for 

 the three qualities, and Longwools, 6%d., 6d., and 4fd. The best 

 Cheviots in English markets averaged about the same as the Downs, 

 and Scotch cross-breds in the Scotch markets about \d. more. These 

 prices are %d. per lb. lower than those of October last year, and i\d. 

 to 2d. less than those of last February and March. 



The Hampshire Down breed has been very well represented at the 

 Metropolitan market by a good number of tegs weighing about 60 lb. 

 dead weight, and about nine months old. These have formed the " first 

 quality " class for Downs during the month, and have realised as a rule 

 from 355. to 425. per head. Another class of sheep has been a prominent 

 feature at Islington of late, viz., the Irish Longwools, or Roscommons. 

 In the eyes of British breeders these sheep find no favour, but they 

 sell surprisingly well in comparison with the English Longwools in the 

 same market, the butchers preferring them for their wealth of lean flesh. 

 They have been fetching about 6%d. per lb., and find plenty of buyers. 



Fat Pigs. — There was no improvement in the average value of fat 

 pigs; in fact, the price in about forty British markets was a little less 

 than in September. Prime small pigs averaged 6s. /\\d. per 14 lb. stone, 

 and larger pigs 55. gd. 



Carcass Beef — British. — The trade in Scotch beef in the London 

 dead meat market was remarkably steady. Short sides made an average 

 of 7|d. per lb. for first quality, and whole sides made from 6\d. to 6%d., 

 without any variation from week to week. The English beef on offer 

 could never be classed as first quality, and averaged 5fd. per lb. 



Port-killed Beef. — The quality of this beef fell off during the month, 

 and prices declined accordingly. Those quoted averaged $%d. and 6d. 

 per lb. for the better qualities, but this does not include the " ranchers," 

 which made considerably less. 



Chilled Beef. — Only very trifling supplies of States chilled came 

 forward, and prices were scarcely worth quotation. Those from Argen- 

 tina were heavy, aricl prices for hindquarters declined by over id. per lb. j 

 between the first and last weeks. Forequarters were remarkably cheap, 

 and very large quantities were forced off at no more than i%d. per lb. 

 The average for hindquarters was 4<i. per lb., and 3-JkZ. for second 

 quality. Some splendid prize quarters from the show at. Buenos Ayres 

 were exhibited, and yd. per lb. was asked for them ; but they were too 

 fat for the demand at this season. At Christmas they would have sold 

 well. 



Frozen Beef. — In view of the very low price of chilled, " hard " beef 

 was at a discount, and transactions were small. The nominal average 

 price of hindquarters was 3d. to 3§d. per lb. 



Carcass Mutton— Fresh Killed. — The trade at times was even worsej 

 than in September, and in the middle of the month, small Scotch mutton, 

 for which there is usually a good demand, was sold at ruinously low 

 prices. In the last week there was a sharp recovery, and prices stood 



