Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-19
HIGHPRICES IN MARKET
COLD WEATHER HAVING ITS Eff
Feet ON SUPPLIES.
Orange and Banana Quotations an
Exception-Butter and Eggs
High-Fish Plentiful.

Dealers in fancy fruits and produce in
the Center market have been unable to
make much of a display of their stock
during the cold spell, and are anxious for
warmer weather. They VIII then be able to
arrange their stands and make attractive
showings. For several days they have had
their stock covered in order to keep out
the frost. For most of the absolute nee
essaries found on such stands high prices
are asked. Green produce is scarcer than
it has been in years, and the prices are
correspondingly high. Spinach is always
in demand, but the supply is unusually
short and the price asked for it is 81 a
peck. Kale and field cress are to be had
for 40 cents peck. Cabbage is still high
and with poor prospects of getting cheaper
owing, 1t is claimed, to the short crop last
fall Irish potatoes are by no means plenti-
full and trouble has been experienced by
the wholesale dealers in protecting their
stock from the cold. Thirty-five cents a
peck is the retail price, while the whole
sale dealers are getting as much as $1.25 a
bushel for them. Sweet potatoes are even
higher. selling at 80 cents a peck
There has been but little, if any. change
in the prices of Florida and California
fruits and vegetables the past week Or
anges and bananas are quoted at the or
binary prices. Bananas are to be had as
cheap as cents a dozen and oranges as
low as 10 cents. The best of the former
fruit bring 20 cents a Dozen while the
choicest oranges are to be had for so
cents Strawberries are in good condition
ana 90 cents quart basket was asked for
them this morning. Pineapples are quoted
at from ~ TO 30 cents, Malaga grapes 20
cents pound and Oregon apples at IS
cents peck. New peas are to be had al
the rate of 81 peck, cucumbers from 10
10 10 cents each and mushrooms go cents a
pound.
Butter and Eggs.
The butter and egg market offers no i'm
mediate relief, although one week of warm
weather would make decided change in
the condition of the egg market The retail
pr1ce this morning was 3S cents dozen. 1t
is said the New York market has been re-
sponslpie FOR the high price of eggs this
winter. Many local dealers have Skinned
their stock to that city because the whole
SAFE price there has been greater at times
IMAM the retail Price in this city In New
YORK yesterday the wholesale price was So
cents. mere mas been an advance of IL
cents a pound in the price of hutter this
week and some dealers are anticipating a
further advance. Thus far there has been
no advance in the retail price.
II is stated that butter is cheaper this
winter than heretofore and the reason for
ii is that there is so much cold stora ee
stock on hand 1t is thought that some
local dealers will lose thousands of dollars
TINS season on their cold storage butter
Some of this stock 1t is said is being sold
for less money than it cost last wear when
IL was put away. The prices asked for but
Ter are 70, 30 and 80 cents pound
Fish Plentiful.
1t seems surprising to the average shopper
that the stock of fish should hold out so
well during the long cold spell. 1t is true
that many of the fish come from southern
waters. nj hot
them come from the north. The benches are
well supplied, and while some varieties that
are usually popular during the Lenten sea-
son are scarce there are others to take their
places, and they are comparatively cheap
North Carolina shad are selling at from 60
cents to S1.2o eacn, and shad roe costs prac-
tically the price of a shad. Sheephead and
red snappers are plentiful, and the demand
for them is great at l212 cents pound
They are in splendid condition and run
from three to twenty pounds each Rock
and perch are not SO cheap. Perch are
scarce al 20 cents, the price charged for pan
rock. Boiling rock are 80 cents pound
Fresh cod and smelts are quoed at 1915
cents, Spanish mackerel and trout at Is
cents, halibut at 20 cents and herring at 30
cents dozen.
There is nothing cheap in the poultry mar
ket. Turkeys are selling at % cents a
pound, stewing fouls at Is cents. and broil-
ers at % cents pound. Quail are $3.50
dozen.
The Meat Market.
The meat market Is steady, as it has been
all the winter. Pork is trifle higher this
week, but is still to be had at prices that
dealers regard as cheap. In the beef market
prices are charged according to quality
One of the heaviest dealers in the market
quoted prices as follows Prime rib roast
12is to IS cents; porterhouse steak, 20 to 25
cents; sirloin steak. Is to IS cents, and
round steak, 121a to 10 cents. Veal keeps
high, and there will probably be no relief
until there is a decided change in the
weather. Outlets are % cents a pound:
chops, 20 cents; loins, Is. and legs, Is cents
Sheep meat is cheap, with the exception of
spring lamb. Ordinary roasts and chops
are from 121e to 10 cents a pound The
price charged for pork is about 12h cents
Smoked hams are IA cents, shoulders. 10
cents; breakfast bacon, 121a cents, and lard
121s cents a pound.