Evening star., 1905-11-03
AT THE CITY MARKETS
DECIDED IMPROVEMENT IN EDI-
BLEs SHOWN.
Big Demand for Game - Fruits and
Vegetables Plentiful-Oranges
From Florida.

The change in the weather conditions has
had a wonderful effect upon the appear
ance Of the benches in the markets and has
resulted in curtailment of the orders for
ice. 1t is no longer necessary fo- dealers
to use ice upon their vegetables in order to
keep them fresh, and the produce is max
ing much better showing than 1t did
when the weather was warmer. Fruits are
also looking better and more attractive.
and there has been decided improvement
In the meat, fish and poultry market. Along
the country line there has come change
in what is offered for sale to remind the
buyers of the approach of winter. Coun-
trymen are bringing in big loads of late po-
tatoes, apples and such other things in the
| line of fruits and vegetables as are to be
found about this section so late In the sea-
son. Fall flowers, colored leaves and
sprinkling of game serve an attraction
and find many purchasers. There has been
a big demand for abb.ts, squirrels and
quail since Wednesday, but the supply has
been much shorter than IS usual at the
beginning of the season. Country people
had about a dozen rabbits, many sQuir
rels and less than half as many quail on
the line yesterday and there were hundreds
of shoppers who wanted such game.
People are too busy taking politics just
now to think about going cunning" re-
marked a countryman to a Star reporter.
I'm Maryland they are thinking about the
Poe amendment. and in Virginia they are
talking of the chances of the republicans
rebuilding their state organization. Another
reason for the scarcity of game Is the fact
that in Prince George county, Md. where
there many gunners, the season for
shooting does not begin until two days after
the election"
Along the country line the dealers no
longer confine themselves to ordinary fruits
and produce, with a little game in season,
In, arficloc
are to be found upon the benches inside
the market, where the dealers have to pay
regular license tax to the District. Many
of these people, it is stated, do not sell
goods of their own raising, but manage to
evade the law. They are selling meats,
cereals. canned and dried fruits of every
description and fresh fruits such as are not
raised in this section. Growers of vege
tables have had larger crops this fall than
usual, and some of them have been so large
that the prices received from them have
not paid the expense of growing and gath
ering. Lettuce has been grown by the
thousands, and some of the growers found
1t necessary to ship their stock in order to
dispose of it. String beans, spinach and
kale have also been more plentiful than
usual and correspondingly cheaper Pota-
toes and apples higher and may not
be any cheaper later. The recent frosts
have brought the tomato crop to an end
and killed other vegetables. but there are
still enough vegetables to be had at reason
able prices TO supply the demands of people
of limited means. Southern tomatoes have
not yet appeared in the local market, but
dealers are expecting them at almost any
time Cucumbers and mushrooms from
hothouses in the District are to be had OF
the market dealers. There are also many
field mushrooms to be had of the colored
women along the country line. The field
mushrooms have been scarce this fall. and
those who were fortunate enough to be
able to gather them obtained good prices
for them.
Oranges From Florida.
Florida oranges have appeared in market
and are of the usual good quality. Fifty
cents a dozen is the price asked for them.
Oranges from Jamaica getting more
plentiful each week and lower prices pre-
vail. Grape fruit are also more plentiful
and cheaper. Grapes from California fur
nish the finishing touches to the attact!ve
fruit displays in the markets, and the prices
asked for them range from ten to twenty
cents. There are a few New York peaches
still in market and they are not cheap.
The fish and game benches are attracting
more than ordinary attention at this sea-
son on account of the opening of the game
season. 1t is true that game from this
section has been scarce thus far, but deal
ers expect there will be a decided improve
ment in the quantity and quality in few
days. During the past two days there has
been an Improvement In the condition OF
cunning the Potomac, increased num-
from points along the river. Rabbits are
quoted at 25 cents each, squirrels from ID
to 30 cents and quail $4. 70 dozen. Eng
llsh and domestic pheasants are quoted IT
81 % each: grouse, 81: plover, 30 cents:
woodcock, IS cents; ortolan, s1.25 a dozen.
and blackbrds, 40 cents. Ducks range
from 10 cents pair for blackheads to $3.50
fer canvasbacks. Terrapin are to be had
al from IS to $50 dozen.
Finnan haddie are in demand for dinner
parties, and are to be had at the price OF
12la cents a pound. Fresh cod are plenti-
full at 10 cents; Boston mackerel 20 cents;
boiling rock. 20 cents; pan rock, Is cents,
and perch, from 10 to 10 cents. Potomac
bass are more plentiful, and are to be had
for 20 cents a pound. Salmon are 70 cents
and halibut 20 cents. Fresh crab meat ts
still plentiful and dealers say they VIII have
il In stock all the winter. There has been
no increase in it's price since the close or
the hard crab season, 30 cents a quart
being the price charged for 1t. Shrimp
are 80 cents a quart and scallops 90 cents.
Little Change In Meats.
There has been but little change In >he
meat market since last week. Beef Is
cheap, and lamb and veal high. Smoked
meats have experienced no change In price.
Butchers say there seems to be but little
probability of much of advance in the
meat market in the near future, especially
so far as beef Is concerned, as there Is
good supply of beef on hand now and more
coming There is no sign of decline in
the butter and egg market, the market be-
ing firm and prices on the incline. Fresh
eggs are bringing from 30 to 35 cents,
while storage and western eggs are quoted
at from 25 to q cents. Butter Is selling at
from 80 TO 30 cents for creamery, and IN
ferior stock is to be had for quarter Iur-
keys and chickens are cheaper than they
uere las week turkeys selling at 10 cents