The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-07
BIG GOOSE MART.
One of the Principal Institu-
lions of Berlin.
Total Value Of the Fowls Con-
sumed Is 100000.
STAPLE DIET ARTICLE.
Arrivals in the City Often
10000 Daily.
Are Under Rigid Supervision OF
Sanitary Police.
STAPLE DIET ARTICLE.

Berlin, Dec THE goose market is
one of the institutions of Berlin ana -
peculiar to this city. Geese furnish one
of the staple articles of diet. as COM
mon as poultry to the tables OF the
German people, and during the winter
season that humble bird is eaten IN
every possible form, from the plain
s'gansebraten'' of the working classes
to the pate de foie gras of the epicure
Outside every butchers shop and gro
Gerry geese of all sizes are hanging, and
they are so plentiful that the price IS
very low, compared with other fowl
One can buy a good fat bird for 20 cents
in our money, and they vary all the
way from 40 cents to $IZo, according 70
size and quality. The climax of the
trade is during the Christmas holidays,
when geese are as important an article
of commerce as American turkeys.
1t is stated that the total value or
geese consumed in Berlin will exceed
SO, 500, 600, and the consumption is IN
creasing rapidly. To the ordinary OBJ
server all geese look alike, but to the
expert there is "a decided difference. and
1 am told that there are twenty-one
different varieties for the German cpl
cures to choose from, each having its
peculiar flavor and merit
The goose market may be found at
Johannesburg, a suburb of Berlin, on
the southeastern side of the city. where
there is a junction of several railways
mia. 1t looks very much like section
of the Chicago stockyards, covering an
acre or two of ground Dartltloned OH
into pens 30 or 40 feet square, with I'M
painted board fences. that reach as high
as the breast of an ordinary man. Each
of these pens is leased to different deal
ers, who have agents throughout the
country, and buyers traVennS from
farm to farm along the rivers and lakes
where the birds are bred and fattened-
The largest number come from the
western provinces of Russia and those
provinces of Germany which lie along
the Russian border. There is good
deal of water there and the climate
and grass are especially adapted to
goose culture.
The wholesale dealers have traffic ar
engagements with the railways so that
cars especially arranged for goose
transportation are attached to certain
Meeting points, they are made up
into trains by themselves and hurried
through 10 Rommelsburg. The arrival
there will average 10000 geese day
months trade is dull, but as the wealth
er becomes colder they often run up as
high as $4,000 and 10000 day The
average car rugged for the service VIII
carry about 1, 200 geese. The total ar
rivals last year reached nearly 1200O,-
600, most of them being consumed in
the Berlin market, which is about eight
geese per capita of the population Tor
the year.
Upon arrival the geese are discharged
through chutes into what are known
as the quarantine pens, where they are
carefully inspected by a corps of city
officials The Germans are especially
particular in all inspections that affect
the health of the people, and if a sin
gle goose has died en- route is af-
fiicted with any disease that can be
communicated to others, the whole car
load is kept in quarantine for week
under the observation of veterinarians.
Should another goose die the whole lot
is condemned to eight days additional
quarantine, and if an epidemic of any
sort should appear, the entire flock,
which usually number about 1000, is
nercilessly slaughtered and sent to the
fertilizer factories. This severe treat
ment causes dealers to be exceedingly
careful about buying diseased birds,