i8o Live and Dead Meat Trade in April, [may, 



prices mav further advance. They are still some 7fd. per stone, or 

 nearly ^3 per head on bullocks of average weight, lower than in July 

 of last year. Considerable confidence is evidently felt by graziers, who 

 are paying very high prices for stores, and the annual lettings of grass- 

 keeping for summer grazing are being made at high figures. 



Veal Calves.— The scarcity of prime veal calves has continued, and 

 those of fair merit have maintained the March averages of g\d. and 

 S^d. per lb. There have been very large numbers slaughtered imma- 

 turely, and these have fetched low prices. Thousands of these calves 

 would probably have paid well for rearing. 



Fat Sheep.— As a large proportion of the fat sheep have been clipped 

 and weather conditions have more or less affected the sale of those out 

 of thje w ool, it is more difficult to trace with certainty any fluctuations 

 in the real value of mutton. Downs in the wool averaged S^d. for 

 first, y\d. for second, and 6d. for third quality, against 8fd., J^d., and 

 6d. in March, thus showing a decline of |d. per lb. The Longwools 

 averaged 8§d.> fid., and 5^., against S±d., y\d., and 5fd. Longwools 

 therefore sold relatively better than Downs, probably owing to the 

 greater value of their fleeces at this season. Clipped Downs averaged 

 yd., 6±d., and $±d. per lb. for the three qualities, and Longwools 6^d., 

 6d., and ^d. Irish Longwools were quoted up to ojd. per lb. at 

 Liverpool in the last week of April. Owing to the wintry weather 

 considerable losses were incurred by clipping during March and early 

 in April, always a more or less speculative proceeding. The fear of 

 damage to the meat by chilling deterred butchers from purchasing, 

 and in many cases the difference in the value of the mutton of the 

 naked sheep was greater than that of the fleece. Latterly, however, 

 clipped sheep have sold much better in proportion, and at present prices 

 for wool it will pay better to keep it. London buyers much 

 prefer clipped sheep when the weather is suitable, and it often happens 

 that the sender gets very little for the wool on the sheep's back at 

 Islington market. 



Fat Lambs. — The value of fat lambs has very largely depended on the 

 markets to which they were sent, for the trade has been extremely 

 irregular and the range of prices wide. Thus far the Metropolitan 

 market has been quite one of the very lowest in the country. Taking 

 thirty-seven British markets the April average was \2.\d. for first, and 

 1 id. for second quality, while the top London price was about iofrf. 

 In the last week the highest price quoted was 15^. at Hull, several 

 Dther markets reported 13d. and i2d., but in London it was only 105J. 

 for the choicest Down lambs. At Bristol, however, it was still lower, 

 for there gd. was the top price. 



Fat Pigs. — The average price of bacon pigs in British markets was 

 ys. $\d. for prime small, and 65. yhd. for larger pigs, showing practic- 

 ally no change from March values, but about gd. per stone below those 

 of October. 



Carcass Beef — British.— The trade for British beef in London was 

 quiet, but values were fairly steady. Scotch long sides averaged 6|J. 

 and 6|d., and English 6d. and 5§d\, per lb. Short Scotch sides fetched 

 6fd. to yd. 



Port-Killed Beef. — Deptford-killed American beef averaged 5I J. per 

 lb. for the best quality. 



