530 



The Provision Trade in August. [sept., 



Veal. — The supplies of good veal in London were small, but about 

 equal to the demand. It is often difficult to find a really prime carcass 

 of British veal in the London market, but the small quantity on offer 

 has generally been worth Sd. per lb. 



Pork. — British pork has fetched from $^d. to 6d. per lb., and the 

 small quantity of Dutch about $%d. Heavy sows have fetched about 

 4|d. per lb. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN AUGUST. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — On account of the dock and transport strikes, and the 

 difficulties experienced in obtaining sufficient supplies to satisfy the 

 demands of their customers, the month of August has been a most 

 trying one for all dealers in provisions. Importers have had to face 

 very serious losses also through their perishable goods being exposed 

 to the weather and getting out of condition. In some cases the liners 

 have taken large portions of their cargo back to America, as they 

 could not land it at Liverpool. This means, of course, that the goods 

 will cross the Atlantic three times, and in some cases provisions will 

 be stowed in the holds of the steamers for about five or six weeks. 

 In consequence of this scarcity of supplies, prices have considerably 

 advanced during the month, more especially for Canadian and American 

 bacon and hams. It is anticipated that when the congestion of traffic 

 which is existing at the end of the month is worked off, lower prices 

 will prevail. 



The demand for hog products in America is still reported to be 

 good, and prices remain high. During August the prices for hogs at 

 Chicago fluctuated from $6.85 to $7.80, against $7.40 to $9.25 last 

 } 7 ear, and $7.35 to $8.20 two years back. In the western States the 

 total slaughter of hogs since March 1st to the middle of August was 

 about 3,200,000 in excess of the same period last year, when the 

 quantity was abnormally small. Arrivals from Canada are still on 

 the short side, prices being below those current at the same time 

 last year. 



English pigs have been marketed in small quantities only, and 

 prices remain almost unchanged. 



Cheese. — Deliveries have been seriously interfered with by the 

 strikes. Canada has recently experienced rain and cooler weather, but 

 it came too late to make up the shortage earlier in the season. Towards 

 the end of July and early in August the make of cheese fell off 30 per 

 cent, in some parts of the country. Prices have steadily advanced 

 throughout the month, and the Canadian factorymen are now demand- 

 ing equal to 66s. to 66s. 6d. c.i.f. for their best sections of August 

 make. This is higher than for some years past. On spot the advance 

 for the month has been from 35. to 6s. per cwt., which at the top 

 shows an advance of about one penny per lb. above the prices current 

 at the same time last year. Those best able to judge estimate the 

 shortage of Canadian cheese on September 1st in the United Kingdom 

 and Canada to be about 250,000 boxes. The Montreal Trade Bulletin, 

 dated August 18th, says: "Prices seem to us to be getting extreme, 

 and the consensus of opinion is that a reaction is about due. The 



