Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-22
TO A CLOSE
SUBSTITUTE MUST BE OBTAINED
FOR PLANKED sHAD.
Hot Weather Affecting Supply OF
Small Fruits and Vegetables
The Meat Market.

The shad season Is drawing to a close
and people who have been accustomed to
the planked article will soon have to make
another selection from the menu card. Po-
tomac shad are getting scarce and dealers
are depending upon fish from the Kennebec
for their patrons. Those from the cold
waters of the Kennebec are in splendid
condition and find ready sale. Forty cents
apiece is the price. Herring are plentiful.
but there is not much demand for them at
any price. Hard and soft crabs and crab
meat are in demand and are leading the
fish market.
Soft crabs are plentiful and the price
cheap. They are selling low as %
cents dozen and the best are to be had
for 80 cents Dealers are getting them
form all sources now Crisfield stock is
usually consider the best. although deal
ers think they are no better than those
from other parts of the Chesapeake. The
sales of crab meat have increased con-
siderably during the past few days. One
dollar gallon is the price asked for the
meat. or 40 cents a single quart. Large
frogs are in demand at 81 and 81 dozen,
while the smaller ones bring so cents a
pound
A good pan fish to be had at this season
is the New York porgie. 1t is about the
size of large perch and 10 cents pound is
the price asked. Black bass, speckled
and Boston mackerel at % cents find ready
sale. White perch are small and not plen-
tiful.
Effects of the Drought.
The continued dry weather has affected
the crops In this vicinity. especially the
small fruits and garden vegetables. Despite
the absence of rain branch peas. turnips
and beets are In the market. The straw
berry crop has probably suffered most.
"And with this crop the lazy or neglect
full farmer has Jared best" remarked one
of the growers to a local dealer yesterday.
The dealer confessed he did not just I'M
derstand the meaning of the remark and
the farmer explained that the man who
permitted the weeds to top his vines is
gathering fruit because the overgrowth
holds sufficient moisture for the fruit.
Berries are bringing from 10 to IL cents
box and good fruit Is scarce. Peas are
60 cents a peck and beetS 8 cents a bunch.
The dry weather has almost forced aspara-
gus out of the market.
Growers of early fruits and vegetables
In Florida have been more fortunate than
those in this section. Reports received
from there two days ago by a local dealer
show that they have had plenty of rain
and the crops are in good condition. Pota-
toes from that section are as fne as local
dealers have ever received and they are
bringing from 40 to 80 cents peck. To-
matoes are plentiful and cheap, choice
stock bringing 12k cents pound and
cucumberS are TO De naO at tnTee anu Blk
for a quarter, dollhouse stock bringing the
higher price.
Florida cabbages are selling three for
IS cents and they are better than those
being received from Norfolk. String beans
from North Carolina are 40 cents a peck
and turnips from this section are cents
a bunch. Blackberries from North Caro-
lima are Is cents a box. Cantaloupes from
Florida have made their appearance
In the market. Ten and IS cents
each is what the dealers are asking for
| them.
The Meat Market.
The bottom has dropped out of the
| meat market" local butcher remarked
to Star reporter this morning. Il was
surprised that prices kept up as long as
| they did"
| The market is dull, he said, and
| there is plenty of meat on hand. Poultry
is still high. although not so scarce, In
| creased shipments are being received. but
| the demand is great enough to keep up
| the prices The butter and egg market is
| about the same 1t was last week. Choice
| butter is 80 cents and eggs are retailing at
| is cents a dozen. No further decrease in
| these prices is expected by the dealers.