191 1.] The Provision Trade in October. 



709 



at d\d. to yd. for Scotch, 6d. to 6\d. for English, and 5^d. to 6\d. for 

 Dutch. 



Frozen Mutton and Lamb. — Frozen mutton was inclined to easier 

 values, and New Zealand best quality was worth <\d. to 4|d. per lb. 

 Lamb was also a little cheaper, the top price being $%d. per lb. 



Veal. — Demand was limited, and prices seldom exceeded y\d. for 

 the best English on offer. Large quantities were sold at 6\d. per lb. 



Pork. — Influenced by the changes of weather, prices fluctuated 

 between 6d. and yd. per lb. for prime small English pigs, and $%d. was a 

 frequent price for medium sizes. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN OCTOBER. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — Further reductions in the price of bacon of all descriptions 

 have taken place during the month, chiefly owing to the poor 

 consumptive demand for the time of year, also to a certain extent to 

 the larger arrivals from the Continent and Ireland, the latter caused by 

 the accumulation of stock during the Irish railway strike. The killings 

 in Denmark for the month have been heavy. The prices now being 

 realised for the bacon in England are resulting in serious losses to the 

 Danes on account of the high prices demanded for feeding stuffs. In 

 order to clear an accumulation of mildly-cured Russian bacon, as low as 

 365. per cwt. has been taken for the light averages. 



American and Canadian bacon have also experienced a dragging 

 demand here, and prices have favoured buyers. During the month an 

 unusual number of young swine have been marketed in the western 

 states of America, and towards the end of the month the average weight 

 of hogs on the Chicago market was 48 lb. less than a year ago. This 

 marketing of the young stock is attributed to the cholera scare, as 

 well as to the shortage of feed in some districts. From March 1st to 

 October 19th the total Western slaughtering of hogs was 16,110,100, 

 against 12,305,000 a year ago, an increase of 3,805,000, or a gain of 

 31 per cent. The total slaughtered over the same period two years ago 

 was 14,165,000. Prices of hogs during the month have ranged from 

 $5.70 to $6.80, against $7.80 to $9.35 last year, and $6.95 to 

 $8.20 two years ago. 



English pigs have been cheaper, as breeders continue to 

 force their holdings on the markets on account of the high price of 

 feed. Those who adopt the sound policy of keeping in the breeding 

 business, irrespective of temporary adverse conditions, will reap the 

 benefit later, as higher prices are bound to follow. 



Cheese. — The wholesale demand during the month has not been as 

 good as it was in September, this doubtless being due to a reduc- 

 tion in the consumption ; also dealers have been very nervous 

 of operating for their winter supplies, on account of the high prices 

 prevailing. Spot prices for Canadians have changed very little, but 

 are from 145. to 16s. above those current at the same time last year. 

 The markets in Canada have shown some fluctuation, purchases having 

 been made at the end of the month at several shillings per cwt. reduction, 

 but the deals were in the October make, which, unless the weather 



