THE POULTRY MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 22

THE POULTRY MARKET.

Messrs A. Mortizson and Co. report: — We have received the following from the poultry expert m Wellington in regard to. Ihe matter of turkeys for export : — " Replying to your favour of the 16th nit., I have to inform you that the department has recently imported fresh stock of American bronzewing turkeys. Young stocks from these birds will be saleable next season. No eggs will ba sold owing to their liability to injury during the rough passage fiom Fairlie, where the birds are kept. The few turkeys raised in -Nelson district are not sufficient for local requirements." We are plea.sed to see that this matter has had attention by the Government, and no doubt in a few years the want of fresh young breeding stock, which is now felt, will be overcome, and we compliment the Poultiy Department in Wellington on its foresight in stocking the , country with suitable birds for breeding purposes, so that the public at large and the colony generally will reap the benefit. We can report at the present time a further rise in prices for export. Turkeys, which should not be •over 10 months' old, and goblers,— which should not weigh less than 131b. and hens, 9lb, V Bd per lb- for gobblers and 6d for hens. If young, the heavier the bird the better the price that can be obtained. Goslings, not over six months, Blb and over, and geese not less than lOLb, 5s a pair ; below these weights 4s per pair. Ducks and ducklings, from 4lb and upwards, 3s 9d per pair; from 3lb to 4lb, 3s per pair. Chickens or cockerels, from 3Jib to 4Jlb. 3s 3d ; over 411b, 3s 6d. Fowls, from 3J'b to 41b. 3s; 2|lb to 3~J.1b, 2s 3d; chickens. 2|lb to 3£lb", 2s Cd. The South African people write that there have been a number of 1 ornplaints in regard to fowls being tough, and rh,e colour of both fowls and ducks being too yellow. They prefer white-fleshed birds. The prio»s indicated for poultry for export are on trucks at the country railway stations, and subject to commission. The poultry should not arrive later than a Friday morning, as the department will not kill on Saturdays. Local prices ore fairly firm, but the demand is not very large. Turkeys, 7d per lb for hens. 9d for goblers ; geese, 5s to 5s 6d ; ducks, from 3s 6d to 4s ; cockerels, from 3s to 3s 6d; hens, 2s 6d to 3s, all according to weigh+. The locaL-prices are, of course, subject to railage, and therefore we think no better than export prices.