The Washington critic., 1885-11-24
THE THANKSGIVING DINNER.
scasonabIc EdibIcs to bc Found In the
CITY Markets.

NAlg mufh'iS'
The city markets are filled almost to
bursting with "good things" for Thanks
giving Day, for the Thanksgiving dinner IS
by common consent regarded as the great
festive event Of the year, and the providers
for this great city have, by no means, neg
lectcd their duty. Hundreds Of turkeys,
fankod by as maiS chickens and ducks,
with quail, rabbits, plovers pheasants and
squads guarding the rear, are seen hanging
from the great hooks ON the stalls. Piles OF
apples barrels Of cranberrios, Jars Of mince-
meat, pyramids OF pumpkins-all announce
the fact that Thanksgiving is near. The
deicacy Of the poultry stalls this week is
the fat and toothsome spring turkey, for
which the demand has increased to equal
the supply. At lG and ~ cents pound,
the price is a little lower than last week.
Young chickens can be obtained at from
80 cents to 81 pair. Old fowls and do
nestle ducks bring from 10 cents to $l.25
pair, Geese are 81 and Sl25 each; squads,
30 cents a pair. Game becomes more plcn-
tiful as cool weather approaches, and this
week finds the game stalls submerged with
game in the seasOnable varieties. Wood
cock, at $3.50 dozen, are much In demand
Quail is from 4. so to SO dozen. Grouse
are Sl.25 pair. Jack snlpes, at $3.50 a
dozen. are scarce. pheasants are 81 25 a
pair Ring neck plovers are $3.50 a dozen.
Small, yellow plovers are 50. Wild turkey
is 10 cents pound. Wild geese are 81 aud
81 % each. Rabbits are 20 and 2j cents
and squirrels 10 and 10 cents each. Duck
ing on the lower Potomac is said to be very
fine and canvass backs can be bought for
$3.50 and SO pair. Nidgcons are 20 cents
and mnllards 81 a pair. Red heads arc In
excellent condition, at Sl2j 10 Sl.5O a pair.
Blue.wing are 10 cents, aud Butter ball, a
small duck, Is 80 cents pair. Spooubills
are Is cents pair.
VEGETABLES.
The usual attractive and tempting APP
pcarance Of the vegetable stalls this morn
ing was not lacking IN variety. Stalks OF
delicate and juicy celery hung from the
racks In profusiOn. Large purple egg
plants from seemingly inexhaustible crop
were as plentiful as ever, while the green
leaves of Maryland cabbage and the white
heads OF caulillower glistcued and sparlled
with the early morning dew. Celery is
plentiful, and the crisp and tender lunches
may be had as low as six stalks for 25 cents,
though the choice Is and 10 cents a stalk.
Brussell sprouts are becoming scarce, and
the price has advanced TO 30 cents n quar-
ter peck. Large white heads of Caulillower
are much in demand for chow-chow and
picking purposes ut 10 and % cents a
pound. Spinach is plentiful at 25 cents
peck Cucumbers four weeks ago could be
bought Us low as 12 cents dozen. The
prices quoted on about one dozen Boston
lot-hOuse cucumbers, somewhat smaller
than the usual size on Engel Brothers stall
this morning, was 40 cents apiece They
were not much in demand
Elephants are cheap, and are 8 and 10
cents each. Lima beans, very fine, are 10
cents quart. Butter beans, snap and
shelled beans are each 40 cents quarter
peck. Fall peas are very scarce, only
few being In market at 80 cents peck,
Cymlngs have advanced to 90 cents n
dozen. Firm heads of Maryland cabbage
are 8 and 10 cents each, while the dark
purple and red Northern cabbage is from
10 to 25 cents a head. Early rose potatoes
are % cents n peck Sweet potatoes are
from 90 to 80 cents q peck. Burr artichokes
are from rs to 40 cts a piece; "Jcrusalemsn
are 25 cents half-peck. Churlottes, for
seasoning, are 90 cents quart. ChiCkory
and water-cress, for garnshing, are each 3
cents bunch, Crauberries are IS cents a
quart. Turnips are 80 cents peck. Pars-
nips are 20 cents half-peck Beets are
cents a bunch. Parsley and mint are 5
cents n bTnch. Leeks, somewhat resembling
in appearance bunch onions, are 10 cents a
dozen. Spanish onions are four for 25 cents,
FISH.
Though the supply of fish on the fish
stalls this morning was more abundant than
for several weeks past, the quotations re-
main unchanged. Boiling rock improves
| with the advance of the season, and are
now in prime condition at 10 cents q pound.
| Taylors from the lower Potomac are arriving
in great quantities, and are much in demand
| at l2l cents pound. Salmon or lake trout
| is 12l cents pound. Silvery-gray Spanish
mackerel is delicacy at 30 cents Il pound.
Boston fresh mackercl, small in size, are 10
cents each. Pompinos, one of the most
delicious members of the ilnny tribe, is be-
coming scarce at 40 cents pound. White
| perch are plentiful at 10 and 20 cents each,
| according to size. Blue fish are somewhat
scarce, and are 10 cents n pound Pike is
IL cents; black sea-bass 10, and halibut 20
cents a pound.
Sheepshead, nicely broied, with garnish-
| ings and Mayamoi6ng dressing, is n de-
licious breakfast dish. Sheepshead are
| plentiful at % cents pound Red-snapper,
| pinkish-colored fish, about the ordinary
size Of the rock, is 10 cents a pound.
Sturgeon, founders, Goldfish and haddock
| are each 10 cents a pound. Cooked lobster
is l24 and 10 cents pound. An increased
| demand for terrapins and turtles Is re-
| ported. Green turtle is 20 cents and snap
| ping turtle is Is cents pound. Diamond
| back terrapins, large size, are 81 a dozen.
| Southern terrapins are SIS and bull terra
pins $3.50 a dozen. Soft crabs are 81 aud
hard crabs % cents dozen. CLAIMS are 10
cents a dozen. Oysters are 25 cents q
| quart
FRUIT.
The scarcity of fruit continues. The de-
crease in the general supply is becoming
more noticeable. Mellow and juicy apples,
the most delicious of all fruits, is now the
| delicacy of the stalls. The apple season
is about at its height, and the supply, both
in suantity and quality, is said to surpass
that of many seasons past. Among the
several varieties now coming to the market
are the Northern Spy, Seeks, Spitzenburgs,
Rhode Island Greenings, Ben Davis, Town
Sweeps, Sleeps Nose, Cranberry Pippins
and Maiden Blush, the prices Of which, ac-
cording to quality, varying from 95 to 4C
| cents a peck. Grapes, as yet, continue
| plentiful. Malaga grapes are 25 cents O
| pound. Delaware and Catawba grapes, In
five-pound boxes, are so cents box. Cali
| fornia TOkays, in lve-pound boxes, are
| $1,25 box. Concords, though not plenti-
ful, remain at 10 cents pound. Rebeccas
are 25 cents pound. The only variety OF
| pears in the market is the Lawrence, the
scarcity Of which has advanced the price to
S1.25 peck. California Bartletts may be
had at fruit stores at and 10 cents each.
Juicy and sweet seedless Florida oranges
are 80 and 40 cents a dozen. Florida
lemons are from 80 to 30, and Messino
lemons 25 to 80 cents a dozen. Lines are
20 cents dozen. Damsons are 10 cents a
quart, Italian chestnuts are 25 cents a
pound.
| MEATS.
The quotations Of meats remain un
changed. Choice porter-house steak Is q
cents pound Sirloin Is 20 cents and round
steak 10 cents a pound. Lamb is in very
fine condition at 20 cents pound for hind
quarter and 10 cents for fore-quarter. Yea]
varies from l2l to 20 cents n pound. The
outlets are 20 and 25 cents and chops 10 and
20 cents pound, Soup meats are 5 and lC