Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-06
EGGS AT HIGH PRICES
REASONS AESIHNED By FARMERS
AT CENTER. MARKET.
Fine Fish Supply on Hand-vegetables
and Fruits- Poultry
ana Meats.

VI WOFOS 10 tnaC eject.
This exclamation was made by Mr..
George Henault. Prince Georges county
farmer. On the country line" at Center
market today when he was asked the price
of eggs by Star reporter.
"They are high and scarce now. and
what they will be when the snow flies no
man can prophecy"
Other farmers did not hesitate to attribute
the high prices charged for eggs to the
manipulations of the product by "the egg
trust" 1t was stated that agents of the
trust have arranged to buy the greater
part Of the eggs sold to country grocers and
commission merchants. These grocers are
said to be the greatest collectors in the
country of eggs, and butter as We'll. The
products named are always standard and
are accepted at all seasons by the mer-
chants in lieu Of cash. Many farmers use
their eggs and butter as sort OF currency
to keep their families supplied with sugar,
coffee, -four and other staples.
Once in the hands of the trust, or the
packers, the eggs are lined or placed In
cold storage, to be brought forth and sold
at high prices during the season OF Ice,
snow and wintry blasts.
Another reason for the prevailing hfgn
price of eggs advanced by Mr.. Henault
was that last winter and spring poultry
ruled high. Old hens sold as high as ~
cents a pound. You know 80 cents for an
old four-pound hen looked like easy
money to the farmers" he said. especially
in cold weather, and many of them sold on
their laying hens. Then the cold and wet
weather last spring prevented many hens
from laying, and the few eggs that were
laid were bought up by the packers. These
conditions and the egg trust explain the
present tip-top prices for the product.
Fish Market at Its Best.
The fish market is now at its best, and
tempting displays are made at the fish
stalls. Oysters are coming in slowly. but
steadily. Standards bring 30 cents quart
and selects 40 and 30 cents. CLANS are
quoted at 80 cents a quart. or 10 cents a
dozen. in the shell. q Escallops bring 30
cents pound, and shrimps 25 cents.
Other fish quotations are: Pan rock, 10
cents a pound; boiling rock, 20 cents; white
perch large, Is and 20 cents pound; small
perch, rs cents per bunch; bluefish. 12k to
10 cents a pound trout or weakfish. 10 to
1914 cents a pound; salmon trout Cor
speckled), 10 cents a pound; sea bass, the
same; Potomac bass, 15 to 30 cents a
pound; halibut, 20 cents, and fresh salmon,
% cents pound; fresh cod, 12h cents, and
paddock, 10 cents pound; eels. from ~ to
25 cents apiece; yellow perch % cents, a
bunch: pike or 'pfekerel, 10 to Is cents a
pound; Norfolk spots. 80 cents2fo II per
dozen; fresh sturgeon, 10 cents a pound:
catfish, 10 cents a pound; German carp,
to 10 cents pound; founders, 10 to 123
cents a pound; hard crabs- scarce at 20
cents dozen
A novelty found IN the market was sword
fish, which sells at Is cents pound and is
said to have a good favor. One of these
sea monsters weighing 500 pounds was re-
Gently received by "a, local dealer 1t is said.
A costly fish is the gamey brook trout,
which is sold on orders at 81 per pound.
Reedbirds bring IS cents dozen, and or
tolan are scarce and sell at II dozen.
Very few winter wild ducks are coming in
SnoRed salmon eels. -f1alibut and shad
range in price from 10 to rs cents a pound:
roe herring. rs cents a dozen: salt cod, 10
to 121a cents pound, and mackerel from
10 to 10 cents pound u
Poultry aid Meats.
Chickens, dressed are selling from Is to
20 cents a pound :, ducks IS to 20 cents;
turkeys, 20 cents, and geesea Is cents
In the meat markets the prevailing prices
showed that both pork andSsbeef have de-
clined slightly In price. Pork. which sew
eral days ago was quoted at IS and 20 cents
a pound, has gone down to an average OF
10 cents.
Sirloin steak sold at 20 cents: porter house,
25 cents. and round steak at 10 cents. Lamb
chops (rib) sold at 20 to IS cents; lamb
loin chops IS to 20 cents; veal chops, 15
cents; veal outlets. 20 to % cents; roast
beef, 1211a to 10 cents; chuck, IL to Is cents;
stew beef, to 8 cents; liver. 10 cents
Mountains of cabbage on the wholesale
line are silent reminders of the approach of
winter, as are their yellow cousins. the
golden pumpkins, which are also piled about
in pyramids. Other vegetables are said to
be getting scarce. Pumpkins were selling
at from to % cents apiece, according to
size, and cabbage from 8 to-, 10 cents a
head. Tomatoes are on the wane, and. sell
for from 25 to 90 cents box: sweet pota-
toes, from 20 to IS cents. a peck: Irish po-
tatoes about the same.
Products Of Garden and Orchard.
Lima beans are. scarce at Is cents a
quart; squash from to % cents apiece;
string beans to cents quarter peck;
apples In good demand at Is cents a peck;
sugar corn scarce. Is to 20 centssa dozen;
green peppers 10 to IL cents dozen: "cut
shorts" or cranberry beans. 40 cents
peck; onions the same; egg plants on the
wane, from to 10 cents apiece; pears 10
cents a quarter peck
Housewives who indulge in fall preserv-
ing have learned with regret that the
ounce crop is short and the fruit Is in
active demand at 81 per peck. The last of
the seasons canteloupes are on the stalls
They are of poor quality and sell from 5
to 10 cents apiece. Caulifower brings 20
to 30 cents a head: peaches from Is to 30
cents a basket; pears the same, while grapes
range In price from 10 to 20 cents a basket,
There are a few cymblings at market at
20 cents dozen and some oyster plants at
cents bunch or 90 cents dozen punches