Evening star., 1902-01-30
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
POPLAR TIMBER BECOMING SCARCE
IN POTOMAC REGION.
Storm Causes Scarcity I'm Fish supply
Herring and Shad on Sale
General Port News.

scarce along the Potomac in consequence OF
it's having been cut to supply the paper
making plants about Philadelphia, it has
been found that pine wood will answer all
purposes for paper making. On both sides
of the river in Maryland and Virginia there
are thick forests of pine which for years
have been encroaching upon what were
formerly cultivated acres. Quantities of the
pine are now being cut in lower Maryland
and shipped to Pennsylvania. Twenty-Five
cents per cord is paid for the wood as il
stands in the forest, but only the trunk is
needed, the branches and other portions
being used a. ffrewood.
In consequence of yesterdays storm the
supply of fish at the 18th street wharf mar
ket was not large The demand, however,
was active and prices were: For black bass,
10c. to 14c. per pound; white perch, Sc 10
i2c. per pound; drum, DC. per pound; PIKE,
Sc. to 10c. per pound; pan rock, &c. per
pound; medium rock Ice. per pound; boil
Ing rock, 2ec. to .22c. per pound; sleeps
head, sc. to Sc. per pound; trout, loc. per
pound; carp &c. to 4c per pound; Jumping
mullets, 4c. to &c. per pound; white catnsh,
&C. to 4c. per pound; black catf1sh, loc. 10
zoe per bunch; yellow perch, 15c. to zoe.
per bunch; river mullets, 15c. to 29c. per
bunch. and winter shad, $1.n to 81 per
hundred.
The demand for oysters continues good,
pie to meet all demands. Prices today
range from so to 80 cents per bushel, ac-
cordng to size and quality. continuation
of the present cold weather is expected to
cause sharp advance i'll prices.
Herring were on sale at the fish wharf
this morning for the first time this year.
The dealers there received four barrels by
express from Florida waters. The fish
found ready market at So per hundred.
Some few shad have also been receiv ed
from Florida, but not in any quantity.
Preparing for Spring Fishing.
The local fishermen are anticipating an
early opening of the shad and herring fish
ing season in the Potomac this spring. 1t
is stated that shad have already been
caught in the York river this winter and
on this the anticipation of an early sea-
son are based. The fishermen are now pre-
pairing their nets and boats and about the
middle of next month a portion Of the
crews will be sent to the fishing shores to
put them in order for the springs work.
The ferry line steamer Belle Haven is do
ing all the work on the route between Alex
dria and Washington. She is running on
the schedule of the steamer Columbia, but
in consequence of the low tides 1t has been
found difficult to take on and land the
heavy grocery wagons from Alexandra.
The new Long bridge will cross the Vir-
ginia channel over the place where the
sand digging machines have been obtaining
the finest quality Of sand. Soundings will
soon be made to locate other sand banks
in the river bottom above the Long bridge.
Mr.. Patrick O'Donnell, chief engineer of
the steamer Charles Manchester, Is super
intending the overhauling of the machinery
and engine of his boat.
The work of rebuilding the Randall line
pier at the foot of Sth street southwest is
being rapidly pushed to completion. The
wharf structure is being greatly strength
ened and the new floor of three-inch oak
plank will make it one of the most solid
and substantial wharves on the river front.
1t is understood the warehouse on the
wharf is to be greatly enlarged, and wait
ing room for the convenience of those who
come to the wharf to meet friends from
down the river is to be fitted up.
Large quantities of wheat, corn and other
grain is still being brought from the lower
week about 600 bushels of grain has ar
rived at Alexandria for the dealers there.
and large quantities have been consigned
to the mills at Georgetown.
The steamer E. James Tull, having un-
loaded cargo of lumber. will sail for Nom
mi creek to load back to this port.
The schooner Isabelle has unloaded a
cargo of cord wood on the James Creek
canal and will sail today for lower river
port to load.
The tug Favorite. with a light Standard
Oil barge from this port in tow, has ar
rived at Baltimore.
The steamer Lily and Howard will finish
discharging her cargo Of lumber at John
son & Wimsatt's today. She will return to
Aqua creek for another cargo.
The schooner Ella Hill is at lower river
port loading oysters for the Alexandria
market.
The Weems line steamer Potomac which
arrived in port from Baltimore and the
lower river landings last night, brought up
a heavy cargo for the local merchants.