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53
It may be interesting to record the circumstances
connected with the meat supply at the
Central Markets alone at Christmas time, thus :
On Monday the 21st of December, the weighing
bridges were opened at 1 a.m., by which time
a long string of heavily laden vans were
waiting their turn at each bridge, and the work
went on interruptedly until 10 o'clock at
night, by which time no less than 4,159 tons
had passed the scales, being 1,200 tons in
excess of any previous experience. I may add
that but for the fact of a large consignment of
American poultry arriving, in an unwholesome
condition, the seizures by the Inspectors
would not have exceeded the daily average at
this period of the year. The bulk cannot be
separated, as the parcels include meat and
poultry, but a large proportion included Scotch
grown beef, intended for the Christmas
market supply.
The figures for Leadenhall Market are not
available, but as the volume of business transacted
there is known to have been on a scale
of unprecedented magnitude, it is fair to