Prices of Live Stock. 



127 



These comparisons, with few exceptions in second and 

 third grade cattle, show either stationary or declining 

 values. The largest declines in the prices per cwt. of prime 

 cattle in the first quarter of 1898 were in Liverpool, London, 

 Newcastle, and Edinburgh, the prices at these markets rang- 

 ing from 32s. to 37^. 4.d. per cwt. in 1898, against quotations 

 of 33^. 4^. to 385-. 6d. in 1897. 



The number of instances in which fat stock were sold in 

 the scheduled markets by an actual rate per live cwt. was 

 largely increased by the reports from the Auction Mart of 

 Falkirk, where this improved method has been adopted for 

 the whole number of cattle returned as weighed, 742 out of 

 1,847 shown. Considerable improvement in this direction is 

 reported also from Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, and 

 altogether a total of 2,090 such transactions against 878 in the 

 same quarter of 1897 indicates a definite advance towards 

 comparable records of this type. The quotations ascertained 

 in this way ranged from 305. 10^. per cwt. at Edinburgh to 

 32^". lod. at London and Dundee for second class stock, and 

 from 32i". per cvv^t. at Liverpool to 36^. 4^. per cwt. at London 

 for such prime cattle as were disposed of in this manner. 



No store cattle were returned as passing over the weigh- 

 bridge in the three months in the markets above named except 

 at Shrewsbury, where the sale of 1,1 01 in this fashion was 

 reported. In vScotland the total of store stock weighed, for 

 which prices were given, was 342, the majority of cases being 

 reported from Edinburgh. The total of 1,443, however, con- 

 trasts favourably with only 64 in the same months of 1897. 

 The prices of store stock per cwt. live weight ranged from 

 25^. 4d. at Dundee to 34^-. 2d. at Shrewsbury. 



The customary table, giving details of the extent of 

 weighing at each scheduled place, will be found on the next 

 page :~ 



