382 Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat 
XXI. — Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat for Consumption 
in the Metropolis. By Robert Herbert. 
Notwithstanding that increased supplies of beasts were on sale in 
the Metropolitan cattle market during the first six months of 1864, 
and that the imports from abroad were on a liberal scale, the prices 
of beef, allowing for usual fluctuations, were well supported. 
The arrivals from Norfolk, Suffolk, &c., showed a slight decrease 
in number, those of the previous season, having- amounted to 
62,170 Scots, crosses, and short-horns, against 66,940 head in the 
corresponding period in 1863; but their quality was remarkably 
fine. Hence the majority of the beasts realised as much as 
4s. lOrf. per 8 lbs., and the Scots and crosses carried a full average 
quantity of internal fat. The losses from disease have, it is 
understood, been trifling, and our impression is that stock, gene- 
rally, was never in a more healthy state than at present. From 
Scotland the supply of beasts was large, viz., 9918 head against 
9610 head last year. The supply was, perhaps, of the finest quality 
ever known. Some very good beasts came to hand from Here- 
fordshire and Devonshire, and sold well. The receipts from 
Ireland were moderately extensive, and there was an immense 
influx of each kind of stock from abroad, the total number im- 
ported amounting to' 139,984 head, or nearly 40,000 more than 
in the first six months of 1863. This account does not include 
entries at the various outports. These heavy importations had, 
however, very little influence upon the trade, owing to the enor- 
mous consumption of meat in this country. Be it remarked, 
however, that at least two-thirds of the foreign beasts came to 
hand in very poor condition, and were principally purchased for 
feeding purposes at low rates. 
* In the early part of the season most breeds of English sheep 
appeared fully ripe for the butcher ; but towards its close their 
quality fell off considerably, although' the demand was in a healthy 
state. Downs and half-breds realised fully 5s. per 8 lbs. out of 
the wool, even with a decline in the value of rough fat to 2s. 
per 8 lbs. The number of lambs brought forward was only 
moderate, and there was a decided falling off in their quality: 
prices, therefore, fluctuated considerably. Very few English 
calves were brought forward ; but the foreign calves were mostly 
in good condition, and the trade healthy. There was a very 
large arrival of pigs from Rotterdam and Hamburg ; but the 
prices obtained for them did not exceed 3s. €>d. to 4s. per 8 lbs. 
The prospect for the season for beasts from Lincolnshire, 
Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire, is fully equal to that of 
former years. The short-horns already received have been very 
good, and there is quite as much stock in process of fatting for 
