C XXV  ) 
The  quantity  of  meat  imported  in  1879  was  1,524,725  cwts., 
being  an  increase  over  that  of  the  previous  year  of  216,771  cwts. ; 
in  1881  the  quantity  had  still  further  increased  to  1,815,327  cwts. ; 
in  1882,  however,  it  was  no  more  than  1,261,235  cwts.,  or  554,092 
cwts.  less  than  in  1881,  and  was  about  the  same  as  the  quantity 
imported  in  1877,  from  which  there  had  been  a steady  rise. 
In  1882  there  was  an  increase,  compared  with  the  previous  year, 
in  the  number  of  oxen,  bulls,  and  cows  of  26,669,  and  there  was 
a decrease  in  swine  and  hogs  of  8603 ; the  number  of  sheep  had 
increased  by  189,147,  and  the  number  of  calves  had  decreased  by 
2343. 
In  1880  the  average  price  of  beef  per  lb.  was  6Ac?.,  of  mutton 
per  lb.  6|d.,  showing  an  increase  over  the  previous  year  of  9 per 
cent,  and  4 per  cent,  respectively.  In  1881  the  average  price  of 
beef  per  lb.  was  5|d. ; of  mutton  per  lb.  7 id.,  showing  a decrease 
in  the  price  of  the  former— as  compared  with  the  year  1880 — of 
4 per  cent.,  and  an  increase  in  tbe  price  of  the  latter  of  4 per  cent.  ; 
in  1882  the  average  price  of  beef  rose  to  6|d.,  and  that  of  mutton 
to  7|d.,  which  prices  showed  percentages  of  increase  of  4 and  9 
respectively,  compared  with  the  prices  in  1880. 
STATISTICS  OF  DAIRY  PRODUCE. 
The  following  remarks  relating  to  Butter  and  Cheese  are  ex- 
tracted from  ‘ The  Grocer  ’ : — 
Cork  Butter  Market. — The  actual  working  of  this  market  was 
very  uneventful  during  the  past  year,  compared  with  some  former 
years.  During  the  month  of  January,  as  stocks  ran  down,  prices 
ran  up,  and  seconds,  which  were  quoted  124s.  on  January  2nd,  were 
144s.  on  the  31st  of  same  month.  Thirds  advanced  from  104s. 
to  121s.,  and  fourths  from  72s.  to  99s.  In  February,  seconds  went 
to  150s.,  and  thirds  to  130s.;  and  in  March  seconds  touched  157s., 
and  thirds  135s.,  fourths  going  as  high  as  109s.  In  April,  when 
supplies  began  to  increase,  firsts  fell  from  156s.  to  109s.,  and  seconds 
from  150s.  to  102s.  The  lowest  point  for  the  year  was  touched  by 
firsts,  at  101s.,  on  May  23rd.  Seconds  were  at  their  lowest  on 
May  16th,  when  price  quoted  was  92s. ; and  on  August  7th,  thirds 
touched  their  lowest  price  for  the  year,  which  was  87 s.  The 
prices  of  “ superfine  mild  ” were  quoted  during  the  year  at  a 
steady  figure  over  the  values  of  firsts,  but  “fines”  and“milds” 
very  often  caused  a loss  to  producers  by  being  quoted  at  less  money 
than  their  relative  qualities  in  salt  butters.  The  tendency  of 
demand  is  becoming  stronger  each  year  in  favour  of  mild-cured 
