456 
On Weirffiing Live-Stoclc. 
It will be seen that the estimated weight is about 1 stone (14 lbs.) under 
the actual weight, when the carcasses were weighed at Ashwell. But when 
the weight of the carcasses was given by the butcher, it was 3 stones per 
beast less than the estimated weights (see Table A). If to this be added the 
1 stone the weight was under-estimated before the animals were sold, a loss 
to tlie farmer is shown of 4 stones (of 14 lbs.) on each beast. 
The result of Mr. Westley Richards killing and weighing 
was, he tells the Royal Commission (Q. 65G0-1), that he got 
about five per cent, more weight of carcass, and proof that if 
the butcher had quoted a certain price per stone as paid by him , 
on Mr. W. Richards's weights, it would have been a gross over- 
statement side by side with the actual price he gave. 
Mr. Westley Richards next showed the Commission the 
result of weighing at home a maiden heifer previous to its sale 
by auction at Oakham. In this case there was a difference of 
nearly 8d. per stone, or one penny per pound, between the market 
quotations price and that actually realised — equivalent to three 
pounds sterling on the value of the whole beast. 
Mr. Westley Richards then, in corroboration of his own 
experience, puts in at Q. 6564 further evidence, from which 
Table C has been constructed. 
From this table it appears there were twelve animals sold in 
April when the market quotations were 4s. 8d. per stone of 
8 lbs., but assuming the percentage of carcass meat to be 58, they 
realised on the first occasion only 4s. 2|dl. per stone of 8 lbs. for 
the carcass, or only 4s. 3d. per stone of 14 lbs. live-weight. 
The same table shows that on May 7 three Shorthorns, not 
good enough to go with the others, were sold to a butcher by 
live-weight, at 4s. Sd. per live stone of 14 lbs. — making more 
than the others per head. 
Then (Q. 6^77) Mr. Westley Richards puts in Table D to 
show that in the case of twenty-one polled 'Scots either the 
market quotation or the butcher's estimate was wide of the fact. 
Taking counsel with the machine the weight of the carcasses 
came to 2,270 stones of 8 lbs. The market quotation was 
4s. lOd., but as the beasts made only 4621., or an average of 221. 
each, they must have gone at 4s. S^d. per stone. 
Although Mr. Westley Richards has been able to demon- 
strate by his inquiries and experiments how little reliance can 
be placed in the present market quotations, and what annoy- 
ance and feeling of distrust they give rise to whenever experience 
in weighing live cattle discloses the real approximate weight of 
the carcasses of the animals sent to market, there are signs 
that this incomplete evidence is not to last for ever, but is giving 
way, as day by day the opportunities it affords for imposture, 
and the fallibility of those who pretend to be infallible, are 
