35* 



The Provision Trade in June. 



[July, 191 i. 



of cured meats on hand being small, packers are independent sellers. 

 During June, prices for American hogs ranged from $5.75 to $6.50, 

 against $8.75 to $9.75 at the same time last year, and $7.00 to $8.15 

 two years ago. 



English pigs were in fair supply, but are not being marketed freely, 

 as breeders look for improved prices in the near future. 



Cheese. — The consumptive demand improved somewhat during the 

 month, but the trade was not brisk. Stocks of really best last season's 

 makes were much reduced, and with the later arrivals of the new 

 makes showing more quality, and being procurable at proportionately 

 lower prices, the demand for the latter description increased. In sym- 

 pathy with the cables from Canada, prices at the end of the month 

 were a little higher. 



Although the weather conditions in Canada during June were good, 

 the make was not so large as expected. The arrivals into Montreal 

 from May 1st to June 27th were 8,500 boxes less than for the same 

 period of last year, although they included 15,000 States cheese shipped 

 via that port early in the season. 



Prices advanced in the United States beyond those current in 

 Canada, and in consequence the exports were practically nil. 



At the end of the month the estimated stocks of Canadian cheese 

 at the three principal distributing centres (London, Liverpool, and 

 Bristol) were 118,000 cheese, against 178,000 at the same time last 

 year, and 104,000 two years ago. The stock of New Zealand cheese 

 was 11,800 crates in London and Bristol, against 23,000 last year. 



Stocks of English cheese are small, and it is generally reported that 

 the make is smaller this year, partly because of the dry weather 

 experienced during the greater part of May and June, but more espe- 

 cially on account of the increasingly large demand for milk for domestic 

 purposes. 



Butter. — There was a moderate trade throughout the month, but 

 at the reasonable prices current the demand continued chiefly for best 

 selections. The arrivals from Siberia were of very fine quality, but j 

 the quantity is expected to show immediate reduction on account of 

 the very dry weather reported from that country, and consequently a 

 falling off in the flow of milk. A few small shipments of Canadian 

 butter arrived in England during the month, this being much earlier 

 than last season. They cost the importers around 1075. c.i.f. per cwt. j 

 Best New Zealand butter was very scarce, as the season is practically 

 at an end, but all descriptions of Australian were plentiful at near the 

 prices current at the same time last year. Prices for Irish butter 

 advanced during the month, which somewhat checked the consumption 

 of this description, but with tinning operations in full swing, the 

 Irish dealers were able to maintain their prices. 



Eg£ s - — Although the warm weather somewhat reduced the con- 1 

 sumption of eggs generally, the London demand was very good, owing 

 to the increased population during the Coronation week, and to the 

 labour troubles at Hull docks, which forced a further demand for the 

 London supplies. 



