1912] The Provision Trade in February. 1061 



Carcass Mutton — Fresh-Killed. — Fresh-killed mutton, after a long 

 period of great depression, advanced in price in sympathy with the 

 live-stock markets. Scotch mutton went up to 55. 2d. per stone for 

 prime small tegs, arid 45. 8d. for 6\ stone sheep, averaging 45. iod. 

 and 45. 5<2. respectively for the month. English tegs averaged 45. 3d. 

 and 45. for first and second quality. The advance in Scotch amounted 

 to about $d. per stone, or fd. per lb. The season for Dutch mutton 

 has quite closed. 



British Lamb. — Circumstances have been very unfavourable for the 

 production of early lamb, and supplies have been small, though quite 

 sufficient for the demand, prices being about 6s. 8d. to 75. ^d. per stone. 



Frozen Mutton and Lamb. — There has been no scarcity of frozen 

 mutton, and all descriptions have been cheap. New Zealand prime 

 quality has remained at 25. lod. per stone, and Argentine and Austra- 

 lian at 25. 4^. and 2s. $d. An advance is looked for shortly in view 

 of the higher value of fresh-killed. New Zealand lamb of the new 

 season has met a good trade at 45. to 45. qd. per 8 lb. 



Veal. — There has been but a poor demand for veal, and the British 

 carcasses have chiefly been of very rough quality. Prices have been 

 much lower than in January, the average for prime English being 

 55. 6d. per stone, or 8|d. per lb., in Smithfield market. 



Pork. — There have been full supplies of British pork at the London 

 dead-meat markets, and trade has ruled quiet but firm at an average 

 of 45. 3d. and 35. iod. per stone. 



THE PROVISION TRADE IN FEBRUARY. 

 Hedley Stevens. 



Bacon. — The chief feature of the trade in this article during 

 February has been the steady advance in prices for long sides of all 

 descriptions. The arrivals of this cut from Denmark have been 

 heavier, or with the moderate arrivals from Canada, and the smaller 

 supplies of English and Irish, prices would have been much higher. 

 The labour unrest brought about slightly easier prices during the last 

 few days of the month, grocers being afraid to stock a perishable 

 article like bacon. All American meats have experienced a very small 

 demand, and prices have favoured buyers, these remarks applying 

 especially to hams of all descriptions. 



The imports for January and February have been in excess of 

 those for the first two months of either of the two preceding years, 

 the increased quantity being mostly made up from Denmark and the 

 United States of America. Although prices are high, we are several 

 shillings below those current at the same time last year, and it is 

 confidently expected that, with temporary setbacks, prices will advance 

 from now onwards. The high prices of feed for the pigs in most 

 countries are causing an advance in the cost of breeding for the curer. 

 The arrivals of hogs on the American markets continue large, but it 

 is generally anticipated that there will be a falling off in the quan- 



