io44 The Provision Trade in February, [march, 



quality were 5§d. and 5§d. per lb. There was, however, a certain 

 quantity of inferior beef at lower rates. 



Chilled Beef. — This important section of our beef supplies was 

 abundantly in evidence, and prices were lower than in January. Average 

 London prices were: — Hindquarters, 4§d. and 3§<i, and forequarters, 

 3§d. and 3d. per lb. for first and second quality. United States chilled 

 was in small compass, and sOme leading firms are ceasing to import 

 it. Prices were much higher than those of Argentine, and averaged 

 6^d. and 5fd. for hind, and 4.3d. and $d. for forequarters. 



Frozen Beef.— Transactions in frozen beef were very limited owing 

 to the low price of chilled. Quotations were almost nominal at 3^. 

 per lb. for hindquarters and 3d. for fores. 



Carcass Mutton — Fresh Killed. — Supplies of small Scotch tegs 

 decreased, and their average price advanced \d. per lb. Prime sheep 

 weighing 64 lb. were no dearer, and while the former realised 7fd., 

 the latter only fetched yd. per lb. Good West Country English tegs 

 sold at 6§d. and 6|d. per lb. as the average prices, a slight decline on 

 January prices. As much as gd. per lb. was occasionally given for 

 Scotch tegs, the legs of which weigh about 4^ lb, 



Frozen Mutton. — New Zealand mutton averaged 4§cL and 3|d. per lb. 

 for first and second quality, and Argentine and Australian about id. 

 per lb. less money, values tending slightly downward. 



Carcass Lamb. — The British lamb on the London market has been 

 limited as to quantity, and is as yet hardly of first-rate quality. It has 

 been fetching lo^d. to nd. per lb. New season Canterbury sold 

 well at 6\d. per lb. till the end of the month, when it fell \d. per lb. 

 Second quality New Zealand made about 5^. and Argentine 3f<2. to 

 ^\d. per lb. 



Veal. — Prime veal has been making as much as S^d. per lb. for 

 English and Sd. for Dutch, the supply being limited, but middling and 

 inferior have had to be sacrificed at very low prices. 



Pork. — The trade at first was fairly good, and British pork sold 

 readily at 6fd. to y\d. per lb., but later considerable dullness set in and 

 prices gave way fully \d. per lb. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN FEBRUARY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — The consumption of imported bacon in the month of 

 February is generally slow, chiefly in consequence of freer offerings of 

 the home-cured article. This year has proved no exception, and, in 

 consequence, prices have slightly favoured buyers for long sides. 

 American bacon has dropped considerably on the month, in the case 

 of some cuts as much as from 6s. to 75. per cwt. American hams have 

 also been in very poor demand, and prices are down 55. to 6s. since the 

 end of January; and this has not had the effect of appreciably increas- 

 ing the consumption. Canadian sides have been in fair demand, and 

 with the moderate arrivals do not show much change in price for the 

 month. Danish and Dutch sides have sold well, the arrivals of the- 

 latter being small. The shipments from Russia have been somewhat 

 irregular, being delayed at the seaboard through stress of weather. 



