Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-24
ON THErRFVER FRONT
PUNaY ADA BALLENaER GOES
ASHORE ON FLATS.
Steamer Midd1esex Has Trial Trip
Ducks in the River-General
Marine News.

The pungy boat Ada Ballenger OF Alex
andria unloaded a cargo of oysters here
Monday and sailed for the lower Potomac
to load back to this city. Just below Alex
andria on the down trip she went ashore
on the river flats and was left aground by
the tide yesterday morning. At high water
yesterday the big tug Major Beaverton OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railway ferry ran
a line to her. and after several efforts the
vessel was pulled into deep water. She was
unframed by going ashore and resumed her
trip down the river. The Balienger Is own
ed by Mr.. Theophilus Ballenger Of Alexan-
dria and is a regular oyster runner to this
city.
There was fair supply Of fresh fish of
all kinds on hand at the fish wharf this
morning and the demand was good. Prices
show but few changes from those of early
in the week and are follows: For Span
ish mackerel, 10 to lie. per pound; gray
trout. to &c. per pound; founders, 5 to &c.
per pound: Potomac black bass to &c. per
pound; North Carolina black bass, &c. per
pound; salmon trout. 8 to 10c. per pound:
sheepshead. 8 to &c. per pound; bluefish and
tailors. to 1Oc. per pound; gray trout,
Z to SC. per pound; pan rock, y TO IOc. per
pound: medium rock. IL to lac per pound;
boiling rock, Is to zoe. per pound; found
ers, 5 to &c. per pound: green pike. 9 to &c.
per pound; white perch, 10 to 12c. per
pound: white perch small. 10 to loo. per
bunch; catfish. large. 20 to 30c per bunch:
catfish, small. 10 to 15c. per bunch; yellow
perch, 10 to Soc. per bunch; cells, &c. each,
and carp. 10 to 40c. each.
There was but little game on sale at the
18th street wharf market this morning and
they brought the figures quoted yesterday.
They demand for ducks OF all kinds Tor the
Christmas table Is good.
The cooler weather has made decided
increase in the demand for oysters of all
ri nd q
ranging from coo. to $1.25 per gallon.
1t is understood the new stack for the
steamer Samuel ]. Pentz will be ready IN
week or ten days and will be put In position
as she lies at her berth at the River View
wharf. During the winter the steamer will
be given thorough overhauling and will
be made ready for service in the spring.
General Matters.
The United States naval tug Triton yes
terday took two barges to Indian Head. On
the barges were two new naval guns for
the testing station at the naval proving
grounds. and two cars loaded with coal for
use in the smokeless powder mill at Indian
Head.
The Middlesex. the new sidewheel steam
er Of the Weems Line, had her trial trip on
the Delaware river few days ago. and was
found to be satisfactory. She will now be
fitted out and will be ready for service In
month or six weeks. 1t is stated the
steamer Potomac Of the Weems Line will
relieve the steamer Essex on the Norfolk
route, and that the steamer Westmoreland
will do duty on the Potomac for short
time while the other boats are being over
hauled.
Three flocks Of ducks, largely mallard.
were seen on the river between this city and
Alexandria yesterday afternoon. In one
bunch there were fully seventy-five birds.
The other punches were smaller.
A new wharf Is under construction at
Alexandria at the foot Of Cameron street,
and will be used for a ,coaling wharf. where
steamboats, can go and be coaled up. These
cOaling wharves are to be found at all ports,
but Washington has never had one.
party Of the soldiers from the engineers
battalion Of Washington barracks went to
Fort Foote yesterday In the naphtha launch
Engineer and cut quantity of evergreen,
mas decorations at the barracks.
The schooner R. b: Spedden. laden with
pine boards from Virginia lumber port,
came into harbor last night.
Barge No. n, with cargo Of oil for the
Standard oil depot here, arrived yesterday
IN tow of a Baltimore tug. ..s .-j.4. ..;GI.
%, The E. P. Evans, c. ]. Cunningham and
A. A. Croswell, with full loads Of oysters,
have arrived for the holiday market,
The tug Jas. o. Carter brought the
schooner Lottie Carter, laden with wood.
into port yesterday afternoon.
The two-Easted schooner Magic. laden
with lumber from North Carolina, has ar
rived for johnson & Wimsatt
The A. H. Quinby, from the James river
with pine lumber, is in port