New-York tribune., 1900-08-19
WHAT CAN CHINATOWN EAT?
SERIOUS SHORTAGE ON FOODS IMPORTED
FROM CHINA-THINGS AMERICA
CANNOT OFFER.
CANNOT OFFER.

CANNOT OFFER.
The trouble in China is beginning to come
home to the residents of Chinatown in an en-
trely new way. The prospect of a serious short
age in the food products which they import from
the Flowery Kingdom is staring them in the
face, and with it comes the terrible probability
that they viii be forced to learn to eat Ameri-
can food. Many articles of Chinese food are
now being raised in this country. the supply for
this city coming from farms on Long Island and
in Delaware and North Carolina. Chinese fish
ermen at San Francisco have succeeded in find
ing many of the fish varieties OF which their
countrymen are particularly fond But there
are many delicacies which are so thoroughly
Oriental that there is no hope of their ever
being found anywhere else.
There have been no large shipments of Chinese
foodstufs since the trouble began Most of the
delicacies are of peIishabIe nature and a
large stock Of them cannot be kept It takes
regular shipments to keep the market supplied
Prices have already begun to rise in China
town, and the wise Mongolians are filing their
refrigerators with advance supplies. Only few
Of them care for American food and all of the
delicate morsels which they particularly ike
come from China
Any one who has ever eaten a thoroU,-E,I,-
Chinese dinner viii realize how impossible if is
N this country. Take birds nests for instance.
Can any one imagine even a heathen Chinese
eating the combination of stubble leaves and
tWigs which the American bird Is content to call
nome? The fact OF the matter is that America
has not the right kind Of birds The particular
Chinese bird whose nest has so fine a taste
builds its home in the rocky cliffs along the Chi
nese coast and uses its own saliva for con
struction material The nest looks like jelly
viii not be sold at all should the war continue
much longer.
Sloot gee is another Chinese food article that
is found only in the northern part Of the En-
pire. It springs up through the snow and is
hard to find. SlOot gee is q black fungus look
ing substance aAd sells for SIG a pound when
there is any in the market.
OF course there are plenty Of sharks off the
Atlantic shore. but the fins are not the same
as those of the Chinese shark The Chinese
have tried 10 eat Atlantic shark fms, but they
found too many bones and much tough skin.
They might use celery in place Of their bam-
boo shoots. but with hardly more delight than
the lover Of good Havana leaf would smoke
cabbage leaves should there be shortage Of
tobacco. The shoots are exported to America
both in the natural and preserved state. and
no attempt has ever been made TO raise them
here. Chinese think there IS no comparison be
tween the egg laid in America and the similar
article which is sent them from China pre-
served in black clay. They hold the same
views about oysters, and would rather have one
Chinese dried oyster, although it looks like
leather and smells like poor varnish than a
whole basket Of Rockaway bivalves Duck giz-
yards lychee nuts and dried mushrooms are
other articles which must come from China if
the Chinese taste is to be satisfied
There are plenty of dried lizards the mar
ket thanks TO the enterprise of a San Fran
cisco importing firm. Before the Boxers took
UP their big knives for the purpose of exter-
rainatiug everything Christian even to the
fourth generation, this firm found that the
market was short lizards and imported
quantity. The price took jump, however,
owing to a decision of the customs officials.
The lizard is generally used to make medicinal
tea after simnering the stove the back
country farmer SINNERS herbs. Consequently
the appraiser ruled that it was medical prepa-
ration. and should pay . per cent ad valerem
duty The Chinese claimed that it was eX-
tract of meat, and should come in for 10 per
cent under the head Of 'unmanufactured ar