174 
Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat 
enormously high range in the value of beasts compared with that 
of many former periods ? We have now open ports for the admis- 
sion of live stock ; we import largely, and apparently are rapidly 
draining the Continent of every head of stock that can possibly be 
spared, and all this without any positive advantage to the con- 
sumers, so far as price is concerned. We must bear in mind 
two features in the trade which will at once explain our position, 
and show beyond a doubt that future prices are likely to rule high : 
first, the rapid increase of our population ; and, secondly, a con- 
sumption large beyond all former precedent in proportion to that 
population. To meet the demand thus enormously increased, 
stock has been prematurely forced for sale, and in too many in- 
stances disposed of immediately on its becoming marketable. 
Here then we perceive a state of things for which there is 
no positive remedy ; and unquestionably it can only be met by 
a decreased consumption of animal food — an event not likely to 
arise except in periods of distress amongst the industrial classes, 
arising from foreign competition or from over-production at 
home. In proof that high currencies must prevail for a con- 
siderable period, we may observe that the rapidity with which 
beasts have of late years been disposed of has, to some extent, 
reduced the available supplies, not only in England, but likewise 
in Ireland and Scotland ; whence it follows that if consumption 
continue to advance steadily as it has done of late, any con- 
siderable fall of prices is out of the question. At the present 
time the best Scots and crosses disposed of in the metropolitan 
market are worth fully 5s. Ad. per 8 lbs. That quotation, if 
stock were in abundant supply in the grazing districts, would 
speedily increase the arrivals ; but, in order to prove that scarcity 
really exists, we may observe that beasts have been purchased 
in the metropolis at these high rates for consumption in Birming- 
ham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Dublin, to such an extent that 
at one period London was absolutely suffering from the deficiency 
thus occasioned. 
Again, owing to the want of food, large numbers of our second- 
rate breeds have been disposed of in poor condition, but yet at 
such high quotations, that they did not much influence prices. 
In all the provincial markets stock has come forward slowly ; 
enormous prices have been paid for it, and the jobbers have 
found great difficulties in carrying on their operations for sup- 
plying London with food. The conclusion at which we feel 
justified in arriving is, that great inroads have been made upon 
the supply of stock ; that consumption is in excess of our past 
rate of production ; and that consequently we can hardly anti- 
cipate a range in value much below present prices. 
We have now to consider the question of supply as it 
