870 The Provision Trade in December. [Jan., 



quarters touched 4fd. per lb., and averaged 4.3d. for the month. Best 

 forequarters averaged 3d. per lb. Best States hindquarters averaged 

 6d., and forequarters 3-f <i. per lb. 



Frozen Beef. — Frozen beef from Argentina and the Colonies averaged 

 3§d. per lb. for best hindquarters. 



Carcass Mutton — Fresh Killed. — The first two weeks' trade remained 

 dull at about November prices, but greatly improved as the month 

 advanced, and prices were \d. per lb. higher at the finish. Prime small 

 Scotch averaged y\d. per lb.; second quality, 6§d. ; English, 6§d. and 

 5fcZ. ; and Dutch, 6\d. and §\d. per lb. There is a visible increase in 

 the trade in Small Scotch carcasses in London, weighing 40 to 44 lbs. 



Frozen Mutton. — The trade in Argentine and Colonial mutton has 

 been steady at very similar prices to those of November. Best "Can- 

 terbury " averaged 4|d„ per lb. Best Argentine averaged 3^d. per lb. 



Carcass Lamb. — Demand for frozen lamb has continued remarkably 

 good, and shows a further advance in values. Prime New Zealand 

 averaged 6\d. per lb., and Australian 5fd., in London. 



Veal. — English veal was dealt in only to a small extent, but prices 

 were very fair for the time of year. The London average was Sd. per 

 lb. for first, and yd. for second quality. 



Pork. — Beginning slow, the trade greatly improved at Christmas, 

 and closed at the high value of Sd. per lb. for small, and yd. for larger 

 porkers. The average for the month in London was y\d. f and 6%d. per 

 lb. for English pigs. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN DECEMBER. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — The year 19 10 will long be remembered by all dealers in 

 hog products as a most unsatisfactory period, caused by the continued 

 small arrivals from almost all countries, resulting in very extreme 

 prices, and in consequence a great falling off in the consumptive 

 demand. In the past, bacon was the food of the masses, but for the 

 greater part of 1910 it has been much dearer than any other meat; 

 and only to keep up their returns partially, both wholesale and retail 

 dealers have had to work at near cost, or at a loss. The producers 

 of the raw material have secured all the profit. The period in which 

 the highest prices ruled was during the months of June and July, 

 but early in August values commenced to recede on most descriptions, 

 and by the end of the year Continental singed sides showed a fall of 

 fully 2d. per lb. 



The greatest falling off in supplies has been from the United States 

 of America, and Canda, and though the arrivals from these two 

 countries have somewhat increased during the last few months, they 

 are still much below the average. Advices from America report disap- 

 pointment at the continued small quantities of hogs marketed, and 

 consequent maintenance of high prices. Many of those best qualified 

 to judge expected a $6 hog by the end of the year, but they were only 

 just under $8. From reliable statistics it appears that there is a large 

 increase in the number of young hogs in the country, and it is now 

 thought that we may expect the larger numbers to be marketed during 



