The fri fedt supply in the Settlement improved considerably daring the week ending October 19 when al classes of drimals registered a considerable increase in number and prices showed a decline which was even more pronounced in the cage of retail prices. An exception was (he süpply of calves, which was short during the period, according to a report issued by the S.M.C.'s market officials yesterday.
Average prices obtained from the Beef and Mutton Dealers Association, three meat stalloldérs in markets. one leading butéliety and a fit of provision dealers, were as follows:
Stock:—E- b" ques Cotton picking strayed from the Sunny South to Avenue Edward Vit on Friday morning but was a trifle different from the system mentioned in "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
For days a large consignment of bales of cotton lids have been landed fróm lighters on the Bund and loáded on motor trucks protected by brawny coolies from the attentions of the scórés of loafers and beggars infest-in£ the Bund. Not that anybody contemplated helping themselves to a whole bale of cotton.
Once on the trucks which sped up Avenue Edward VIE the scene changed. Onlookers were astonished to see at least a score of ill-washed loafers runifiing after' the trucks and grabbing handfulls of cotton from the bales as the trüéks passed. The roadway was dotted with tufts of showy white cotton torn from the bales probably on the maxim that some of the stuff must be lost in Pork Eri Yea Matton
With regard to fresh fish supplies, however, the report stated, they wêre fair to short at, on the whole, steady prices considerably above normal; eet went Up 36 per cent, and sóles 25 per cent over previous week. The supply of salted fish was fair at steady prices. Onty im the case of shrimps was the supply reported to be ample at declining prices.
Prices of fruits were also on the increase during the week, although their supplies wêre reasonably adequate with increasing varieties; Che-109 apples went up 20 per cent. and figs 33 per tellt, over thè previous week. The sole exception was in the case of Chinese péárs which decreased about 17 per cent. when compared with the previous week.
Fresh vegetable supplies during the week were, according to the official report, adequate on the whole, but at irregular prices. CHWeb, egg plants, kohlrabi, onions, potatoes, and pumpkins increased in prices from 11 to 100 per cent. ger last week; others, such as Bártiboo shots, cabbage, carrots, Chinese celery, ginger, sweet potatoes and turnips have decreased from 10 to 93 per cent., compared with previous week. The remainder were steady at prices considerably above normal.
Supplies of other foodstuffs, such as milk, flour, grain, rice, etc. were fair to ample at steady prices, but fuel showed a slight increase over previous week, the prices of the best anthracite and No. 1 house coal being, respectively, $36 and $25 a metric ton. The price of rice remained the same as the previous week, namely, $16.67 for 200 1b. transit and anyhow there was no harm in ensuring that the principle was maintained. Some of the loafers had their tattered coats stuffed with cotton while one of them had a bag about the size of a flour sack packed tight with loot, and cheerfuly awaitet the passing of another truck to get even more.
Nobody seemed to be particularly worried about the proceedings.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.