for Consitmption in the. Metrajwlis. 415 
25/. each, which returns litUo or no profit to thcni ; in point 
of fact, after allowing for freight, charges, and commission, it 
may be doubted whether merino breeding is not productive of a 
loss. 
The annexed statement shows the number of each kind of 
stock, including foreign arrivals, disposed of in the Great 
Metropolitan Cattle Market during the last six months of each 
year :— 
Supplies oj each liiiul of Stock Exhibited and Sold during the last Six 
]\[oiiths of the folloiL'ing Years : — 
1856. 
1857. 
* 1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
Beasts 
Cows 
Sheep and Lambs 
Calves 
Pigs 
129,509 
2,864 
689,444 
14,480 
18,7.33 
137,915 
2,918 
701 ,414 
1 5 , OUG 
14,992 
147,118 
3,137 
747,829 
15,186 
19,441 
143,198 
3,030 
803,334 
l-',277 
16,130 
145,420 
3,015 
762,740 
15,766 
15,470 
149,7.50 
3,187 
774,260 
12,441 
20,116 
The above comparison exhibits a steady increase in the sup- 
plies of both beasts and sheep in 18G1, compared with 1860 ; 
compared with 1856 the excess is most important. Pigs have 
steadily increased in number, but the supply of calves has fallen 
off owing to the unusually small numbers of English on offer. 
Whilst the foreign competition keeps down the price of veal, 
English breeders will find it more profitable to keep their calves 
to be turned into prime beef. 
In glancing at those quarters from wlience London draws its 
supplies, we find a steady increase in the arrivals from Lincoln- 
shire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire ; but a falling off 
in those from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire. 
Other parts of England have forwarded very moderate supplies, 
but from Ireland and Scotland they have steadily increased. 
About 6000 fewer foreign beasts have been on offer than in 1860, 
but the supply, taken as a whole, has come up to some former 
years. The district arrival statement is as under : — 
" District " Bulloch Supplies. 
1856. 
1857. 
1858. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
Northern Districts . . 
60,760 
81,600 
66,260 
64,470 
66,140 
71,450 
Eastern Districts 
7,000 
6,970 
3,600 
9 , 500 
2,500 
Other parts of England 
20,700 
15,370 
13,820 
23,220 
20,500 
9,700 
2,734 
1 ,836 
2,074 
4,640 
1,151 
4,586 
11,000 
12,000 
13,760 
10,544 
7,852 
10,340 
33,381 
25,984 
30,797 
30,394 
37,573 
31,814 
The Irish stock has mostly appeared in fair condition, and 
