i.9 1 o.] The Provision Trade in March. 



77 



Carcass Lamb. — Demand wps very slack, and 15. per lb. was rarely 

 exceeded in London. 



Veal. — There was a fair trade for best veal, and prices for both 

 English and Dutch ruled steady at j\d. to Sd. per lb. 



Pork. — Supplies were moderate, and London prices for prime small 

 carcasses were often as high as Sd. per lb. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN MARCH. 

 Hedlev Stevens. 



Bacon. — There has been no improvement in the situation during the 

 month, but a steady advance in prices, more especially in American 

 descriptions. Hogs in the United States made record prices during 

 February, but still higher figures have been paid during March, as high 

 as $11,172 being reached, whereas $7.15 was top price in March, 1909, 

 and $5.95 at same time two years back. Recent advices from the 

 United States report that the conditions cannot improve until the 

 farmers have had time to increase their stocks, and we may expect 

 these extreme prices until possibly the end of the year. Cables at the end 

 of the month were asking 85s. per cwt. for some cuts, which were selling 

 at about 525. the same time last year, and 415. two years earlier. 

 Shipments to the principal English ports for March have been extremely 

 small, for one week to Liverpool the quantity being only 5,200 boxes, 

 which is about a third of the receipts of twelve months back. In the 

 United States the demand keeps good in spite of the high prices, and 

 letters report that the difficulty is not in selling, but in obtaining 

 : enough goods to fill the orders. Here the demand has fallen off to 

 such an extent that enough stock can be found to fill all orders, but 

 there are no reserve stocks, and the pinch will be felt later, when 

 arrivals are still further reduced. On spot some descriptions of 

 American hams are making 305. per cwt. over prices current at the same 

 time last year. 



Arrivals from Canada are still very small, packers apparently sending 

 along just sufficient to keep their brands on the various markets, and 

 the prices realised for the best brands are practically the same as those 

 current for English and Irish sides. 



English pigs continue very scarce, and prices realised must be very 

 satisfactory to the breeders. Considerable interest is apparently now 

 being taken in some districts in the rearing of pigs, with satisfactory 



j results, but some time must elapse before any real relief is possible. 

 Cheese. — Although trade has improved during the month with 

 wholesale dealers, there has been only a slight increase in consump- 

 tion. Nevertheless prices have generally hardened, stocks of Canadian 

 being reduced, especially of white. Values are still a little below 

 those current at the same time last year, but it is anticipated that 



j we shall see further advances early in April, when the consumption 

 of this article of diet usually increases, especially as it is cheap in 



