said to have been on account of advice from the commission men who argue
that the unusual demand during Christmas week following the previous
large supply would not be very large. Dressed-beef operators bought
freely and there was a general advance in prices. The quality of the
beef was not first-class. The highest price paid for the best was $6 65
per cwt. Sales were principally at $5@6. Common lots brought $4 25@4 95.
Some poor ones went at $4. Cows for butchers sold at $3@4, and inferior
lots at $2@2 90. Bulls brought from $2 to $4 75. A few car loads of
Texans sold at $3 50@4 50 per cwt. Veal calves brought $4@7 for 100 lbs.
Milch cows were lower as the supply has been large. There was a falling
off of about $10 per head; they sold for $25 to 55 per head.

HOGS.--During the past week they formed a strong combination to break
the market, all the 20 packing houses doing business here agreeing to
buy only a stipulated number of hogs each day. The plan worked as was
anticipated, and although the receipts for the week dropped to 89,000
against 187,470 during the previous week, there was a steady decline
from day to day. Shippers were good buyers, taking on an average 5,500
hogs daily, but city packers bought only about 11,000 or 12,000, leaving
at times upwards of 28,000 or 30,000 unsold at the close of the day.
Choice hogs declined only moderately, but other descriptions were very
weak. Up to date there have been packed in the West this season about
100,000 head more than to same time last year. The market closed on
Saturday at $4 65@5 90 for heavy; $4 60@5 30 for light, and $3 25@4 60
for skips and culls.

Note.--All sales of hogs are made subject to a shrinkage of 40 lbs for
piggy sows and 80 lbs for stags. Dead hogs sell for 1-1/2c per lb for
weights of 200 and over and [Transcriber's Note: blank in original] for
weights of less than 100 lbs.

SHEEP.--The demand has been brisk and prices for good lots advanced
fully 25c per cwt. The receipts have fallen off greatly. Sales were made
of common to choice at $2 50@4 65. No fancy droves were received, and
they were nominal at $4 75@5.

* * * * *

COMMISSION MERCHANTS.

J.H. WHITE & CO.,
PRODUCE COMMISSION

106 S. Water St., Chicago.

Refers to this paper.

MISCELLANEOUS.

GOLD MEDAL, PARIS, 1878.

[Illustration]

BAKER'S
BREAKFAST COCOA.

Warranted _absolutely pure Cocoa_, from which the excess of Oil has been
remov