692 Live and Dead Meat Trade in October, [now, 



to have been from 6d. to is. per stone, and as, the gain in weight 

 would balance the extra cost of artificials, a handsome margin of 

 profit would be left. 



Veal Calves. — Fat calves maintained steadily the average values of 

 September, except in the second week, when they declined Id. per 

 lb., but this was subsequently recovered. In twenty English and 

 Scotch markets the average was again S^d. and *]\d. per lb. for first 

 and second quality. 



Fat Sheep. — The sheep markets have again been remarkably steady 

 from week to week, and the fluctuations in values very small. In 

 fact, the weekly averages have scarcely changed at all, and those for 

 "Downs" were Sd., yd., and $%d. for the three qualities, exactly the 

 same as in September. Longwools in fourteen English markets 

 averaged y\d., 6^d., and 5^., this breed also showing no change. In 

 Scotland the Cross-breds have averaged about \d. per lb. more than 

 the Downs in England. The quotations for first quality Downs at 

 Islington have stood rather high relatively to other markets, and in 

 the last week that market was the highest in England for that class 

 of sheep, except Basingstoke, where there would naturally be South- 

 downs on offer. The chief reason for this is perhaps worth a refer- 

 ence. There have been fairly good supplies of Hampshire Down tegs 

 about nine months old, and weighing from 60 to 68 lb., dead weight. 

 These young sheep were in keen demand, and were, without question, 

 the best quality of Downs in the market. They represent, in fact, 

 the class of sheep that London requires, and have sold well accord- 

 ingly. Some of them have fetched 505. each, while, as regards their 

 price per lb., the nominal %\d. has often proved gd. when slaughtered 

 and weighed. 



Fat Lambs. — Although the season for English fat lambs is virtually j 

 over, they continue to be reported in thirteen British markets, and 

 during October they averaged S^d. and y^d. per lb. for first and second 

 quality. This was a decline of Id. per lb. on September prices, and 

 it would have been a larger one had it not been for the Scotch markets, 

 at several of which gd. per lb. was quoted. 



Fat Pigs. — There was a slight decline in fat pigs, but it did not 

 occur till the end of the month, and the average price for bacon pigs 

 was not much affected. First quality in about thirty British markets 1 

 averaged 85. per 14 lb., and second 75. 4faL, a decline of about 2d. 

 per stone, as compared with September. 



Carcass Beef — British. — The value of British beef in the London 

 Central Market was well maintained till the last week, when all beef 

 was depressed by the glut of Argentine chilled. Scotch sides then j 

 fell ^d. per lb., but the averages for the month were : — Short sides, 

 •y\d. and y§d. ; long sides, 6fd. and yd. ; and English second quality, 

 5fd. to 6§d. per lb. 



Port-Killed Beef. — The average for Deptford-killed American beef 

 was 6d. for first and $^d. for second quality. 



Chilled Beef. — As already intimated the market was overweighted 

 by chilled beef. At the beginning of October best Argentine hind- 

 quarters were fetching 6d. per lb., but arrivals were so large that the 

 price fell rapidly to 3fcL, and much was sold at 3d., or even less. Fore- 

 quarters were a drug, and forced sales resulted in little more than 



