400
ZWICKAtJ.
consumed in 1905. Beef ranks next with 35 per cent, of the total meat
consumption. Very little veal, and even less mutton is eaten, the former
representing about 8 and the latter 4 per cent, of all butchers’ meat consumed
in the town in 1905. In these figures no account is taken of the small
consumption of horse, goat, kid and dog flesh, though it is worthy of note that
the number of animals of each of these kinds slaughtered for consumption was
greater in 1905 than in 1904. Thus 285 horses were slaughtered as against
174 in 1904, 136 kids as against 120, 74 goats as against 51, and 63 dogs as
against 26.
Returns from 76 working-class families showed an average weekly
consumption per head of only a little over 20 ounces, or at the rate of 65 J lbs.
a year. Of this, 32 per cent, was pork and bacon, beef amounted to 28 per cent.,
and sausage to 26 per cent. Veal was 7 per cent, of the total, and mutton
6 per cent.
Subjoined is a summary table showing the predominant prices of the
various kinds of butchers’ meat in Zwickau at October, 1905, and October,
1906, each quotation being based upon the verbal statement of 15 retail butchers,
carrying on business in different parts of the town, whose shops were visited in
the course of this inquiry. It will be seen that there was a slight rise during
the year in the prices of all kinds of meat.
Predominant Prices paid by the Working Classes in October, 1905, and
October, 1906.
Description of Cut.
Predominant Price per lb.
October, 1905.
October, 1906.
Beef :—
Ribs
Silverside...
Sbin i with bone
1 without bone
Steak
Flank
Mutton :—
Leg ... ...
Shoulder
Breast
Neck
Chops
Veal :—
Hindquarter
Shoulder j
Shin ... ...
Loin ... ...
Pork :—
Leg
Foreloin ...
Belly
Spare Rib...
Chops
8f¿/.
8\d. to 9\d.
not sold.
9fd. to 11 d.
7|d „ 8\d.
9fd.
8|d. to 9|d.
8#
8#
8fe/. to 9|d.
8%d. „ 9Jd.
8|d. „ 9%d.
Is.
6fc/.
8Id. to lid.
11 d.
9fd.
8frf. to 9ft/.
9f d. „ 11 d.
9ft/. „ 11 d.
9ft/. to 9ft/.
9ft/.
not sold.
11 d.
8ft/.
9ft/. to 11 d.
9ft/.
8ft/. to 9ft/.
8ft/ „ 9ft/.
9ft/.
9ft/.
9ft/.
Is. It/.
6#
9ft/. to lit/.
11 d.
9ft/.
9ft/. to 9ft/.
11 d.
lit/.
With reference to the above table it has to be observed that the prices are
those stated by the butchers to be for meat of the quality most generally bought
by working-class customers, and it will be understood that the meat sold at
those prices is not of the best quality. It has also to be observed that meat can
be had at much lower prices at the public meat stall or Freibank, where the
carcases of animals which have failed to come up to the standard required by
the meat inspector are sent for sale, after being treated in such a way as to
render them safe for human consumption. Forty-six tons of meat of this kind
was sold at the Freibank in Zwickau in 1905, and it is stated that the demand
far exceeds the supply, as shown by the rapidity with which the stocks available
on any day are bought up. Of the 46 tons of inferior meat sold at the