i9 io.] The Provision Trade in October. 693 



nominal prices. United States chilled fetched from 6d. to 6fd., but the 

 quantity was very small. 



Frozen Beef. — With chilled beef so plentiful and cheap the trade 

 in frozen was little more than nominal. 



Carcass Mutton — Fresh-Killed. — Throughout the month all fresh- 

 killed mutton met a very quiet and restricted trade in London, and 

 prices were lower than in September. Scotch averaged yd. and 6§d. 

 for first and second quality, English 6\d. and 6^d., and Dutch 6§d. 

 •and 5fd. per lb. 



Frozen Mutton. — The trade in frozen mutton continued remarkably 

 firm, and prices were higlj in relation to those of fresh-killed. Best 

 New Zealand ruled at about 4|cL, and Argentine 4<i. per lb. 



Lamb. — There were no quotations of British lamb at the Central 

 Market, but frozen met a good sale and advanced in price at the end 

 of the month, when Canterbury lamb fetched from 5fdL to 6\d. per lb. 



Veal. — Much of the finest Dutch veal has lately been diverted from 

 the London market to Italy and Switzerland, and consequently this 

 class of meat has been scarce and dear. The best qualities of English 

 .and Dutch have realised 8fd. per lb. 



Pork. — Until the last week pork met a good trade at full prices. 

 Small English pigs fetched Sd. per lb., and Dutch J^d., but after the 

 decline of ^d. at the end of the month the top quotation was "]\d. for 

 English and 6\d. for Dutch. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN OCTOBER. 

 H ed ley Stevens. 



Bacon. — The decline in prices reported at the end of September 

 continued throughout the month of October, and at the close dealers 

 were offering some of the leading brands of Continental singed sides 

 at 185. to 205. per cwt. (say 2d. per lb.) under the prices being paid 

 in August last, and several shillings under current rates at the same 

 ■time last year. The reaction in the values of Continental sides has 

 been brought about by the . increased killings, and the reduced con- 

 sumptive demand, which has not been sufficient to clear each week's 

 arrivals. Agents have tried to force sales by reducing their prices each 

 week. This affected all other descriptions of hog products, and 

 especially English and Irish bacon, our curers having to accept a pro- 

 1 portionate reduction in prices, or see the trade pass from them to 

 those handling imported goods. Retailers having on hand purchases 

 at the higher prices, the public has not yet fully benefited from the 

 altered conditions. When consumers can buy at i^d. to 2d. per lb. 

 less, it is anticipated that there will be a considerable increase in the 

 consumptive demand. 



The trade in American bacon and hams was very small for the 

 month, but prices do not show so great a reduction as the Continental 

 and home productions, the drop being from 6s. to Ss. per cwt. only. 

 The arrivals from America and Canada were again very small, and 

 I there are no prospects of any immediate increase in the quantities. 

 Prices for American hogs again fluctuated considerably, the extremes 

 being from $7.90 to $9.40, the top price at the end of the month 



