796 Live and Dead Meat Trade in November, [dec, 



at Ipswich, where there have been fair supplies of ripe Shorthorns 

 from the stalls, butchers have been willing to give 95. 6d., and even 

 105. per stone for weeks together, while the top price at other markets 

 has been 85. gd., is very significant, seeming to show that even costly 

 artificial feeding has been well repaid. The following are the averages 

 in twenty English markets for the first four weeks in November:-- 

 Shorthorns, Ss. $d., ys. $d., and 6s, 3d., against Ss. 3d., ys. 33d., and 

 6s i\d. in October; Herefords, 85. J^d. and ys. 8d., against Ss. $%d. 

 and ys. 93d. ; Devons, Ss. y\d. and ys. y\d. y against 85. 53d. and 

 ys. 5§d. ; Welsh Runts, 85. 3d. and 75. 6d., against Ss. ifd. 

 and ys. 33d. ; and Polled Scots, Ss. yd. and 75. 93d., against Ss. 53d. and 

 ys. S^d. per stone. Thus it may be said that English beef has 

 advanced 2d. per stone during the month. Trade was very good in 

 Scotland, and prices a little higher than in England, Shorthorns fetch- 

 ing frequently 405. per cwt., and Scots up to 435. 4d. by live weight. 



Veal Calves. — The fat calf trade remained in a rather lifeless con- 

 dition, veal being in only small demand. Although different markets 

 have varied from 73d. to 9d. per lb. for first quality, yet the averages 

 have worked out every week at 8d. and 7d. in all British markets. 



Fat Sheep.— The chief feature in the fat sheep trade was the large 

 number of tegs coming out three months before their proper time, 

 forced sales having to be made through the terrible scarcity of winter 

 keep. Islington market has been full of young sheep that would, in 

 ordinary seasons, be kept till March. These have made from 355. to 

 425. each, many of them being from Norfolk and some from Oxford- 

 shire. Hampshire tegs were also fairly supplied, but this is their 

 normal season. The trade was dull and dragging, yet prices, though 

 very low, were better than in October by \d. per lb. The average 

 ia English markets for the month was 7fd,, 6|d., and 53d. for the 

 three classes of Downs, and y\d. y 63d., and £d. per lb. for Longwools. 



In a long journey through a turnip and sheep district the writer 

 only saw two or three fields of swedes worth the cost of pitting, and it 

 seems plain that the weight of mutton that can be produced in southern 

 England this winter must be the smallest for many years. The 

 prospect is therefore a gloomy one for producers and consumers of 

 English mutton. Prices must, to all appearance, be very high in the 

 spring. Next season's clip of wool must also be affected by the present 

 premature sales. 



Fat Pigs. — The value of bacon pigs has continued its downward 

 course, giving way, on the average of thirty British markets, from \d. 

 to id. per stone per w r eek. Prime small pigs averaged 6s. 23d. and 

 larger weights 55. 7d. per stone. Last year at this time the average 

 stood at ys. ^d. and 6s. gd. 



Carcass Beef — British. — Home-grown beef has just about followed 

 the course of the live-stock markets with a quiet trade and little 

 fluctuation. Scotch short sides in Smithfield Market fetched an 

 average of y\d. and 7d. for first and second quality, long sides 6|d. 

 and 6|d., and English 5fd. to 6d. per lb. 



Port-Killed Beef. — American beef slaughtered at Deptford was in 

 moderate supply, and sold freely at an average for the month of 6d. 

 per lb. for first and 5fd. for second quality. The supply of "Rancher" 

 beef was not large, and the best of it made about $d. per lb. 



