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100
MEAT SUPPLIES.
The supply of meat to the Central Market for the year 1904 was 410,519
tons, 5 cwts., 3 qrs. It will be seen from the Table on p. 112 that this amount
has only twice been exceeded, viz., in 1901 and 1903, when the deliveries
exceeded 415,000 tons in each case. The Market was open for business 304
days, thus showing an average daily supply of 1,350 tons.
That the meat deliveries do not now increase concurrently with the growth
of population is due to the increasing amount of meat delivered to the retail
trade direct from the slaughterhouses attached to the Cattle Markets at
Islington and Deptford, and also from the numerous Cold-Air Stores
established on the riverside and elsewhere, and although the Market
deliveries are less than last year, the actual volume of business transacted at
the Central Market has probably increased.
The state of trade in the Market has a direct relation to the amount of
meat dealt with by your officers. Thus, when a cargo of meat arrives in an
indifferent condition at a time when the demand for supplies is large and meat
fetching good prices, any affected portions are cut away in order that the
value of the sound portions of the carcasses should be realised ; on the other
hand, if such a consignment is put on a dull market the meat is stored in
refrigerators and served out from time to time according to the demand.
Being originally of poor or doubtful quality, much of this meat is subsequently
condemned.
This and other causes, such as fires on meat-carrying vessels, and breakdowns
in refrigerating machinery have resulted in the seizures for 1904
being the heaviest recorded in the City, viz., 1,556 tons, 2 cwts., 1 qr.
During one week in October last no less than 132 tons, 7 cwts., 0qrs., 8 lbs.
of unsound meat, chiefly beef from the River Plate, was condemned by your
officers. The removal of such a mass of putrid material from a public market
taxed the resources of the staff to the utmost, but it was fortunately effected
without a single complaint either by the salesmen or the public—a fact that
speaks well for the organisation and work of the Department.
As the sources of supply are becoming more remote, it is unlikely that there
will be any material diminution in the amount of meat seizures. For instance,
two more firms are now importing chilled meat from the Argentine, and when
it is remembered that the voyage from Buenos Ayres takes three weeks as
compared with six days for the New York passage, it is evident that supplies
from the former are more likely to arrive in an unsound condition, especially
as the arrangements for transport in South America are at present somewhat
imperfect, the steamers generally bringing the meat of two or more importers
which has to be picked up at factories considerable distances apart. The