868 Live and Dead Meat Trade in December, [jan., 



The quantity on passage on 31st ult. was 910,000 qrs., most of it 

 yellow corn. The American surplus is put by Beerbohm's List 

 (December 30th) at 44,000,000 qrs. more than that of the previous year, 

 but the agricultural Press expects large quantities to be absorbed in the 

 feeding of an increased number of pigs and in American stock feeding, 

 generally. 



Oilseeds. — Owing to unfavourable reports of the linseed yield in 

 Argentina the market for that oilseed advanced half a crown per qr. in 

 the last few days of the Old Year. India is expected, according to the 

 market advices, to yield 50,000 tons more linseed than last season, 

 against Argentina's 25,000 tons less, but the imports of the United' 

 Kingdom in 19 10 are stated to have been fully 100,000 tons below 

 requirements, and stocks to be accordingly very reduced. The good 

 crop of cottonseed secured in Egypt during October has now come to 

 hand in very fair quantity, and prices in mid-December fell to 7s. 6d. 

 per cwt. Buyers acted so promptly, however, that 85. 3d. was asked 

 as the month closed, which it did with only 34,000 qrs. of linseed and 

 43,000 tons of cottonseed on passage, against 57,000 qrs. and 61,000 

 tons a twelvemonth previously. 



Various. — Among prices asked for fair average quality samples on 

 the last day of 19 10, the following quotations may be mentioned : — 

 English beans, new crop, 325. per 532 lb. ; Indian white peas, 305. per 

 504 lb ; Indian chick peas, 25s. per 504 lb. ; Burmese Dari, 225. 6d. per 

 480 lb. ; Essex rye, 245. per 480 lb. ; Norfolk buckwheat, 275. per 416 lb. ; 

 Midlothian oatmeal, 345. per 280 lb. sack ; Canadian oatmeal, 225. per 

 240 lb. sack ; barley meal, 125. 6d. per 240 lb. sack ; maizemeal, 12s. per 

 240 lb. sack ; feeding rice, 75. 6d. per cwt. ; and German beet sugar, 

 9s. per cwt. 



THE LIVE AND DEAD MEAT TRADE IN DECEMBER. 

 A. T. Matthews. 



Fat Cattle. — The chief interest of the month's trading centred in 

 the Christmas markets, as there was a general expectation of a revival 

 in the demand for British beef which had been gradually shrinking for 

 many weeks. Unfortunately these hopes were doomed to disappoint- 

 ment, and at the majority of the great markets prices barely equalled 

 those of last year. The change in the character of the cattle on offer 

 on these occasions, so noticeable of late years, was more marked than 

 ever, and overfed beasts of great size are now conspicuous - by their 

 absence. At some country markets prize animals fetched fancy prices 

 for purposes of advertisement, a few Shorthorns making ^40 and 

 upwards. 



The Metropolitan Christmas market was typical of most others, 

 with a moderate supply of excellent quality, being composed of 

 ripe but neat animals of handy weight, and very little superfluous 

 fat. Yet, though there were only 2,300 head on offer, against 2,900 

 last year, business was rather dragging, and a clearance barely made. 

 The extreme price of Aberdeen-Angus steers was S^d. per lb., and 

 none exceeded ^30 per head. There was a splendid show of Devons, 



