535 



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 i 



PRICES OF LIVE STOCK AS RETURNED UNDER 

 THE WEIGHING OF CATTLE ACT. 



The returns of prices obtained under the Markets and 

 Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Act, 1891, for the last quarter of 

 1899 enable the complete figures tor that year to be pre- 

 sented in a table which appears on page 543. 



The numbers, both of cattle and sheep, entering the 

 scheduled markets of Great Britain in the quarter ending 

 31st December were considerably less than in the 

 corresponding quarter of 1898. The cattle weighed were 

 also fewer, but the number of sheep weighed shewed a 

 marked increase, particularly at Liverpool and Aberdeen. 

 Statistics, both of the numbers of animals and of the prices 

 realised during the quarter, will be found in the series of 

 tables on pp. 540-542. 



The returns for the complete year 1899 are summarised 

 in the accompanying statement, and in the case of cattle and 

 sheep, the numbers vary but slightly from those of 1898. The 

 cattle entering the markets, at the places scheduled under 

 the Act, were less by about two per cent., while the numbers 

 weighed and priced were very slightly larger than in the 

 previous year. The comparative figures for sheep entering 

 the markets show even closer approximation, notwithstand- 

 ing the fact that the numbers concerned are nearly four times 

 as many. The returns for pigs have less importance, but the 

 great increase in the number entering the markets — con- 

 siderably exceeding the records for any previous year since 

 the Act came into force — is perhaps worthy of notice. 



