G 1-2 Prices and Quantities of Live Stock &c. in Ireland. 
annum, and sheep about 22,000. In 1891 these numbers had risen 
to 631,000 and 893,000 respectively (see Table IV., which may 
be read in conjunction with Table V. beside it). As against this, 
however, it is right to mention that there was a considerable 
export trade to England and foreign countries in dead meat be- 
tween 1800 and 1825. Live cattle, landed at Liverpool in those days, 
were driven to Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, and elsewhere. 
Prices of Irish Corn. 
The values of wheat, barley, and oats have been compiled with 
much care in England. Records are to be found in the almanacs, 
copied from official sources, showing the quotations per imperial 
quarter for over a hundred years, and the researches of various 
writers have carried these figures backwards several centuries. 
Duties under the Corn Laws varied, like tithes, with prices, so it 
became necessary to have accurate information. Parliamentary 
papers bristle with returns showing prices of grain. The Corn 
Returns Act of 1882 (45 & 46 Viet. cap. xxxvii.), repealing former 
Acts, now regulates the collection of such prices in England and 
Wales. In Ireland there is no such Act, and no Government official 
whose duty it is to record the prices of Irish wheat, oats, or barley. 
From 1800 to 1846 returns of the prices of grain in Dublin 
were at different dates presented to Parliament. After the repeal 
of the Corn Laws less interest was taken in prices, but up to some 
date between 1880 and 1887 a Corporation official would seem to 
have been associated with the prices in the Dublin Gazette, which 
are now signed by the Secretary to the Corn Exchange Company. 
The old Irish Gazette prices appear to be returns collected by the 
Corporation, but they are not collected under the authority of an 
Act of Parliament, and by a numerous staff like the London Gazette 
quotations. 
English returns are by the imperial quarter — a measure of 
capacity containing eight bushels of 2,218T9 cubic inches each. 
Irish quotations are all by the barrel — wheat, 20 stones ; barley, 
16 stones; oats, 14 stones— the stones being 14 lb. This needs 
to be mentioned, because the stone weight was different in many 
parts of Ireland. In Ireland the year 1885 saw wheat, for the 
first time for over a century, fall below 20s. a barrel, and, with 
the exception of 1891, it has never since raised itself above the 20s. 
line. In 1886 it descended to 16s. 3 d. The average annual price for 
1892 was not so low, but last December it fell to 26s. id. per quarter 
in England, equal to about 14s. Id. per barrel ; and at this figure, 
not equalled since 1761, the farmers had to sell their wheat. 
Ireland is fortunately not now a wheat-growing country, and 
though cattle and sheep are at present a drug, wheat is still cheaper. 
Taking the annual returns of the Dublin markets, the highest and 
lowest averages since 1786 in Ireland were : — 
