191 1.] The Provision Trade in January. 957 



Carcass Beef — British. — In Smithfield Central Market Scotch beef 

 has been rather largely supplied, and there was a decline in prices 

 somewhat out of proportion to the fluctuation in inferior qualities. 

 Short sides averaged 6fd. for first and 6§d. for second quality, and long 

 sides 6\d. and 6d. per lb., representing a slight fall from December 

 prices. There was some moderately good English beef on offer, and 

 this averaged $%d. and 5§i. per lb. 



Port-Killed Beef. — The trade in Deptford-killed beef in London 

 rs gradually losing importance, and has scarcely any effect on the value 

 of other descriptions. The average price at Smithfield in January was 

 5fd. and ^d. for first and second qualities. 



Chilled Beef. — United States chilled averaged 6^d. per lb. for best 

 hindquarters and 4§d. for best forequarters. Argentine hinds of best 

 quality averaged ^\d. and best fores 35 d. per lb. Arrivals were moderate 

 and prices fairly steady. 



Frozen Beef. — Trade in frozen beef was without special feature, 

 except that forequarters sold at higher prices than usual in proportion 

 to hindquarters. The price of the best hinds was 3^. and of the best 

 fores 3d. per lb. 



Carcass Mutton— Fresh Killed. — The value of fresh-killed mutton 

 advanced in sympathy with the improved trade in live sheep. In the 

 third week consignments of small Scotch tegs of about 40 lb. to 

 Smithfield were stated to be the largest on record. These averaged 

 7§<2., and larger sheep yd. per lb. English mutton averaged 6|d. 

 for best quality. At the close of the month the cessation of the Dutch 

 supplies gave an additional impetus to the demand for home-killed 

 mutton. 



Frozen Mutton. — The arrivals of New Zealand mutton were 

 extremely small, and the best averaged 4§<i. per lb. There were, 

 however, ample supplies from Argentina and Australia, which realised 

 3d. to 3^. as the average price. 



Carcass Lamb. — There was a steady demand for frozen lamb, and 

 prices of the best New Zealand continued high, averaging 6\d. and $\&. 

 per ib. for first and second quality. Australian and Argentine lamb 

 fetched about id. per lb. less than the above. 



Veal. — Prime English veal was scarce in London, and averaged 

 from yd. to Sd. per lb., according to quality. A few small Dutch 

 realised fancy prices, but the current value was much the same as 

 that of English. 



Pork. — The supplies of pork were rather large and fully equal to 

 the demand. Prices ruled lower than in December though there was no 

 serious fall. English carcasses averaged y\d. and 6fd. per lb. for the 

 month, and Dutch 6%d. and 6d. for first and second quality. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN JANUARY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — The year opened with higher prices than were expected, 

 and by the middle of the month further advances had been secured, 

 which again had the effect of diminishing consumption, resulting in a 

 fall in prices all round on account of some accumulation of stock. Before 

 the month closed all the advance had been lost, and long sides were 



