§ MR. MAHONY (Meath, N.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, 963 Whether sales of cattle by live weight, and sales after cattle have been weighed, have considerably increased in number during the past two months in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Islington; and, whether he can now say when he will issue to Members the first Return of such sales?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)I have caused inquiries to be made of the clerks of the different markets. The result is that the practice of sales by weight or sales after weighing has been introduced; but at most of the markets named there are still few such sales, and in one or two none are reported. The practice cannot be said to have increased to a considerable extent generally in the last two months, though it appears to be making progress. At Liverpool the number of cattle weighed has increased considerably, and the sales of cattle by live weight have also increased. At Islington a commencement was made two months ago, and altogether about 400 beasts have been weighed there, the weekly numbers being, on an average, about 90 in the last three weeks. At Dublin the number of beasts weighed has increased from 715 to 748, comparing the eight weeks ending the 18th of October with the eight weeks ending the 13th of December. The Board of Trade hope to publish some information of the description referred to in the latter part of the hon. Member's Question in the Return which has been agreed to on the Motion of the hon. Member for Shropshire.