Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-06
EGGS HIT THE
LOWEST PRICE
BUTTER FIRM AND OFFERINGS
ARE LIMITED
Potatoes Are Firmly Held and Fancy
Onions May Reach Four Cents
Oranges Are a Drae--ceI-
cry Crops Damaged

cry Crops Damaged
Based on market conditions the egg
quotation committee on Saturday fixed
the selling price of California ranch
eggs at II cents, the low price for the
season. At this figure the market TN
doubtedly opens today, although 1t
was said late Saturday afternoon that
eggs had been jobbed as low as 16
cents and that some retailers were
selling two dozen for 35 cents. The
absorptive power of this market was
well tested last week. Few eggs are
going into storage.
In speaking of the market one heavy
egg dealer said:
I'm my opinion since the market
was lowered the consumptive demand
has increased wonderfully and eggs
moved well, but the sales by jobbers
would have increased but for ranchers
bringing In their eggs and selling di-
rect to retailers. | do not pretend to
guess at the market, but / think local
ly the low point has been reached. At
II cents few eggs from the north can
come in, as the rate by express is
about 76 cents a case and at 14h@15
cents in the valley the price would
equalize. Therefore, after Gambling,
charges for breakage and loss, the
hazard would be great to handle the
goods"
One indication to the egg market Is
that ranchers are sending in their old
hens to poultry dealers and this may
indicate that the usefulness of large
number of hens is completed for the
season.
BUTTER STILL FIRM-The 43,03S
pounds of coast and valley creamery
and dairy butter that arrived on Fri
day did not affect the local market.
as the demand was as active as ever
and no surplus remained. In fact, the
opinion was freely expressed that deal
ers had scarcely sufficient to meet
demands, as the local account and
shipping trade was anxious for the
fancy grades. No better active butter
| season has ever been known in Los
Angeles and the new butter season
has opened in the most favorable
form. No surplus, that formerly
proved a bar to stability, is in sight,
hence the market is open for storing
and from the outlook almost any kind
of butter would prove to be good
property. From the outlook, based
on present conditions, present prices
should prevail for some time.
The cheese situation continues
strained regardless of the fact that
quotations remain unchanged. Almost
every dealer Is short and with their
regular shipping orders coming to
hand there is much Skirmishing for
goods to fill them. Not only is the
street ransacked but makers are be-
sieged with letters urging them to
send in their make. Dealers generally
seem to be trying to take care of their
local trade without advancing the price
too much. Old coast. stock is most in
! demand for shipping and this is al
| together cleaned up.
Local makes also are firmly held
and no surplus is on the shelves.
! POTATOES AND ONIONS-De-
mand for fancy potatoes is still ac-
tive and the best Salinas are going
towards $500. Stocks in the north
are fair. but the sorting is bringing
out many low grade potatoes that tend
to keep quotations lower, for north
ern potatoes are not coming in large
| lots this year. If dealers have been
correctly advised. Some Colorados are
expected to arrive this week and if
they are like the first sample should
prove good stock.
Onions are still firm, the natural
condition of the market, as reports
from supply centers say that fancy
| goods are scarce. This causes many
dealers to think that high prices will
come before the new crop of silver
skins become abundant. Demand Is
active and shipping is reported salts
factory.
ORANGES ARE DULL-All of last
week the orange market was a drag
as the Gull oranges were plentiful and
sold from S0045 cents a box on char
acter. This has kept prices for fancy
navels down and they hardly touched
$1.75 a box Shipping to Arizona was
in evidence, but prices were lower,
| Lemons are steady at $1.65 for the
fancy and fancy grapefruit is $1.S5@
2.25 on grade.
| Nc strawberries came in Saturday
The demand is good, but the offerings
| have not been of the best. This week
it is said better fruit is expected as
the vines have had a rest
Bananas are fairly cleaned up and
prices ranged from 30D4 cents on ripe
ness and shipping condition. Nine car
loads were received last week.
In vegetables caulifower is about
gone and holds at S5 cents a dozen.
Rain has damaged late celery at
Smeltzer so that the estimated 800
growing carloads will be reduced more
than cne-half. Shipments for the sea-
son will scarcely reach 1900 carloads.
String beans have reached the high
level of 12@16 cents a pound; fresh
peas scarce, 4Q16c; cabbage, 50@60c a
| sack and zoe a hundred.
FISH AND GAME-Last week the
fish market was overstocked with hall
but and large catches of smelts. De-
mand was good, but offerings were
not all taken. This morning the
quantity of halibut is reported ample
for market needs.
Lobsters and crabs were scarce all
last week and the market is open as
the articles are wanted.
No rabbits are in stock. in the game
line, and wild geese are only in fair
supply.
Offerings of local live poultry are
more free, the demand taking the birds
at once. For these dealers are paying
15@16 cents a pound, live weight. So
far in this season little Kansas poul-
try has come to this market and less
is expected.
Receipts of Produce
The following articles have been re-
ceived in this market on the date
named
March g.
Eggs, local, cases '....''.''''''''''''. 4si
Mana