i9i i.] The Provision Trade in April. 



181 



Chilled Beef. — As regards States chilled beef, it is noteworthy that 

 frequently during April there was none worth quoting on the London 

 market. Best hindquarters fetched 6\d. to 6%d. per lb., and forequarters 

 4<1 to 4|d. Argentine chilled was plentiful, and a clearance of exposed 

 stocks was often impossible. Prices were slightly lower than in March, 

 the averages in the Smithfield Market working out at $d. to ^d. for 

 hindquarters, and 2fd. to 3d. per lb. for forequarters. 



Frozen Beef. — The value of frozen beef gradually declined all the 

 month, best hindquarters averaging qd., and forequarters about 2§d., 

 per lb. 



Carcass Mutton — Fresh-Killed. — Mutton has been very slow of sale 

 and trade dragging for all except the smallest sizes. Very light Scotch 

 tegs have occasionally fetched Shd. per lb., but fluctuated to the extent 

 of %d. per lb. Their average was Sd. Excellent Scotch mutton of very 

 moderate weight made yd., and larger sheep 6d., per lb. The value of 

 English was 6d. to 6^d. per lb. for good West Country tegs. 



Frozen Mutton. — This article sold at very low prices. The best New 

 Zealand has stood for three weeks at $\d. per lb., Argentine at 3d, and 

 Australian a fraction less. 



Carcass Lamb. — British lamb was unusually cheap, and the choicest 

 only averaged io^d. per lb., large quantities being sold at qd. and 

 under. The top price of the best frozen (Canterbury) was $d., and that 

 of Argentine about ^\d. 



Veal. — Prime quality British varied from Sd. to S^d. per lb., but 

 6d. was the outside value of middling carcasses. 



Pork. — Small pigs have fetched yd. to y\d., and medium sizes 6|d., 

 per lb. There has been a good demand for heavy sows in London at 

 5<i. per lb. for sausage making. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN APRIL. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — Although on the whole the demand was a little better than 

 during March, dealers are disappointed with the month's trade. In 

 spite of the fact that prices were considerably below those current at 

 the same time last year, the consumption was still less. Owing to the 

 cold weather just before Easter, the demand for the holiday trade was 

 much less than had been expected, but towards the end of the month 

 orders were a little more free. 



The arrivals from Denmark were not quite so heavy as during the 

 previous month. Prices for this description remained steady, but agents 

 found some difficulty in clearing up their stocks before the next shipment 

 arrived. The imports from Russia were fairly large, and in some cases 

 pressure was brought to bear in order to effect sales, which resulted in 

 lower prices all round. The top price for the month was about 545. per 

 cwt., with secondary grades selling at around 485. per cwt. The ship- 

 ments from Holland were small, but they are likely to increase in the 

 near future. Canada continues to ship us bacon in slightly increased 

 quantities ; prices for the month remain about unchanged. 



American bacon was again cheaper, and with hogs being marketed 

 daily in larger numbers than last year, it is anticipated that prices will 



