Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-26
THE LOCAL MARKET
FRESH FISH SCARCE AND DE-
MAND FOR SMOKED STOCK.
Potomac Bass and Shad Quoted at High
Figures-Beef Takes
Tumble.

The fish market Is declared to be in bad
way for the Lenten season.
Its hard to quote prices" dealer re-
marked to a Star reporter, for the reason
that there Is but little stock on hand"
Because of the scarcity Of fresh fish there
is a greater demand for smoked stock.
Smoked white fish Is in great demand and
the price is Is cents pound. 1t has been
but few years since they were to be had
at 80 cents a Dozen which Is about the
price charged for two Of them now. The
only reason given for the advance In the
price is that the Lake Erie trade is in the
hands of only few dealers and they con-
troll the market. Smoked Potomac herring
and bloaters are 30 cents a dozen and cod
10 cents pound.
Ice has to be broken in order to catch
bass in the Potomac. and the fish are to be
had for Is cents a pound. Shad are being
sold at from 81 cents to SIPS each and
herring are SO scarce that no prices are
quoted. Sheepshead fish weighing from
three to five pounds are to be had at 10
cents a pound. Boiling rock are % cents
pound and scarce at that price. There
are very few pan rock on the market
Smells, cod, red snapper and trout are 121a
cents. Spanish mackerel 10 cents and hall
but Is cents a pound. Oysters are scarce
and good stock is high. All shell fish are
scarce and in demand at the increased
price.
Beef Takes Drop.
Beef is cheaper now than it has been at
this season for more than twenty years.
remarked local dealer to Star reporter
This is the season of the year when it is
expected to be high, but prices are low and
the market is stagnant Good cattle are
bringing only 6k and cents. and the retail
prices are correspondingly low
Inc retail prices quoted by the dealer
We're as follows: Rib roast, 121a to IS cents;
srloin steak. 10 to Is cents round steak
1212 to 10 cents; soup meat to 10 cents,
and corned beef. to cents. Lamb chops
are quoted at from 121a to 20 cents; roasts
LIZ to 10 cents. and stew lamb to 8
cents. Veal is higher than beef or sheep
meat, outlets selling at from 20 to % cents
chops, 121a to Is cents: roaStS, 121a to 10
cents, and stew meat. from to II cents.
Pork is about the same as it was last week.
Fresh pork is selling at 121a cents, hams
from IL to 10 cents. and shoulders, 10 and
121a cents.
Strawberries 40 Cents Quart
Strawberries, as fine as were ever found
on a market bench, are to be had for 40
cents a quart basket and the fruit gives
the market stands a springtime appearance
Green goods of the kind used for food are
scarce and correspondingly high. There has
been a still further decrease in the supply of
spinach since last week, and the product is
bringing from so cents to 81 a peck Kale
is 40 cents. Cabbage is still being sold by
the pound, and sauerkraut is 10 cents
quart, double the usual price.
New potatoes from Bermuda and new
peas from Florida are selling at 81 a peck
Homegrown potatoes are 30 cents a peck,
and sweets are 30 cents. New beets from
Florida are 10 cents 4 bunch, caulifower
from California IS to % cents a head, toma-
toes 20 cents pound and egg plants from
onh Nv 30
scarcity and price of green vegetables, can
ned goods are In great demand.
The Butter Market.
The butter market Is firm and steady, and
fine stock is scarce. In the retail market
the prices range from 30 to IS cents pound,
while some little stock is to be had for 25
cents. There has been slump in the egg
market since last week, and ordinary stock
Some specially selected stock brought as
much as 35 cents.
The egg market is guided entirely by the
weather." said a dealer to a Star reporter
For that reason it is hard to quote the
market. 1 have paid three different prices
for stock in a single day, and there was as
much as cents difference in the range of
prices
Turkeys are / cent cheaper this week
than they have been. They are q cents a
pound this week. Baking chickens are 16
cents pound, frying chickens % cents and
capons 20 cents a pound. Long Island ducks
that are fed upon celery are % cents a
pound.