Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-26
GOT OFF THE PERCH.
Poultry Dealers Had 10 Make Cut
in Prices for Thanksgiving.
DOMESTIC FOWLS ARE PLENTIFUL.
Eighteen Cents Pound Likely to be the
Top-Notch Price for Turks.
THE MARKETS VERY ACTIVE YESTERDAY

That noble barnyard fowl, the North
American turkey, SAID by. some historians
to be close blood relation of the proud
bird of freedom, cut decided figure about
town yesterday. He was to be met at al
most every turn.
In many instances his life had been sac.
rihced to perpetuate one of the
beautiful customs of the country,
and he looked rather barren of any
distinctive features of glory, as he
adorned the front of some tradesman's place
of business or reposed quietly in barrel in
company with many more of his fellows.
Hundreds and hundreds of them were to be
encountered in crates, however, looking ust
as proud and unconcerned as if they had not
been given an extra lease of life in order
to convince the populace that they were
still fresh, and had not undergone any spe-
cial treatment in soda and other things cal
culated to make them appear sweet and
wholesome to purchasers.
TURKEYS DROP A BIT.
1t would be difficult matter to say just
how many turkeys were landed in Pitts
burg Yesterday, but it was roughly estimated
that the stock on hand was increased at least
$1,000 pounds, and another great rush of
poultry of all kinds is expected to-day In con-
sequence dealers were compelled to hop down
from the perch they were occupying Saturday,
when turks were retailing at 20 cents a pound,
and as hne birds as ever graced a table could
be bought last hight at Is cents pound, while
in few instances they were even cheaper than
this by cent or TWO, though
above susm;cio, Ainno Wo,or $500 .r.ta
after crate of live turkeys were to be found,
and they were selling at II cents pound by the
lot. On Fourth auenue, along Water street
and at other headquarters. the wholesale price
was about the same. though in few instances
the price was half 4 cent higher than this. The
dealers generally calculated that this would
make the retail price about Is cents a pound
Dressed and drawn turkeys were selling at Is
cents wholesale along Liberty street, and mer-
chants declared the stock was not very ex-
tensive.
GRoCERS NOT GETTING LEFT.
One thing was noticeable, and that was that
many of the retail grocers from all parts of the
city were laying in their supply, as was shown
by the number Of market and express wagons
going about the streets piled high with crates.
Down at the market house the dealers were
doing the best they could Many of them did
not use scales at all, but Just sold the fowls at
| SO much per fowl and took chances The gen.
eral belief on all sides was that the supply
would equal the demand, and that IL cents a
| pound retail would be about the top figure,
with chance of its falling below this.
Chicken. geese and ducks were plentiful. but
they could not hold a candle to turkeys in
point of popularity. The wholesale prices were
70 to 75 cents pair for the first named. 81 Is to
81 35 pair for geese, and from go to 75 cents a
| pair for ducks, all taken alive. Chickens
dressed brought IL and IL cents and ducks
| IA to 15 cents pound wholesale. The
| retail prices were about the same as quoted In
| these columns on Sunday. The same Is true of
| game, which is plentiful. A few wild turkeys
were offered at 81 so and So apiece, and can
vas-back ducks still held their own at s. pair.
Oysters. fish, meats and vegetables were also
being sold at last weeks prices, with big sup
| plies all around.