Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-17
PRICES IN MARKETS
INCREASE IN PRICE OF MEATS
AND VEGETABLES.

Unless there is change experienced in
the weather in the near future the market
dealers fear the prices Of necessaries Will be
much higher when the demand is made
greater by the inaugural crowd. There has
been slight increase In the wholesale
price of beef and fresh pork, but the adj
vance has not been great enough to affect
the retail price
Ihere Is nothing particularly cheap In
the poultry line. and one dealer said: THE
butter and egg market Is out Of sight"
Fruits and vegetables are not much higher
than. usual and not nearly so high as they
have been in the past when weather con-
dlt1ons were less favorable. The demand for
them has not been great since the holi-
days and 1t is for this reason, it is stated
the prices are as cheap as they are Despite
the long cold spell the fish market is in
splendid shape and choice fish are cheap.
While there are plenty Of frozen fish in
market, there is also plenty of fresh-caught
stock, and practically summer prices pre-
vail Shad from the Carolinas are plenti-
ful at from so cents to 81 each, and are in
fairly good demand. Black bass from the
POTOMAC are to be had at 20 cents a pound
and striped bass at % cents. Strawberry
perch from the Potomac, said to be an ex-
cellent fresh-caught fish, are plentiful and
in demand at two pounds for a quarter
selling at 10 cents a pound, speckled trout
and founders at 1917 cents, and blueish,
Spanish mackerel and smelt are bringing Is
cents. Halibut is 20 cents a pound, POM
PIANO Is cents and salmon 30 cents a
pound
Poultry is Scarce.
Poultry is scarce and high. The stock on
hand Is fine, but dealers are not certain that
shipments will be large enough to supply
ing from % to 81 cents a pound. Chickens
are to be had at from 16 to % cents. Broil-
ers are the highest priced chickens and the
demand for them is great. Capons are -
cents. Ducks are to be had for 20 cents a
pound, and geese at from 10 to IS cents.
Butter Scars Upward.
i've been in the butter business here for
about twenty-five years" said a butter
merchant to a Star reporter. land I've
never before known the market to be as
high as 1t Is now. Good butter is scarce
and without any signs Of early relief. The
cold storage stock is about played out and
shipments here are small"
Butter is quoted al from 80 to 40 cents a
pound today. While there are some deal
ers still selling eggs at 35 cents. others are
asking as much as 40 cents for them. Some
small lots from the country brought 30
cents at wholesale today. One dealer re-
fused an offer of 80 cents for all his stor-
age butter today. He said he realized that
the sale would have Melted him a good
profit. but he did not see any prospect of
duplicating the stock in the near future
except at a much higher figure.
Some Strawberries.
Strawberries the benches of the fruit
dealers give the stands a summertime APP
pearance. They find slow sale at 60 cents
quart box. Tomatoes from Florida find
ready sale at 20 cents pound. They are in
fine condition and of good quality. Mush-
rooms in frst-class condition, are to be had
at 80 cents a pound A few seasons ago
they seldom sold for less than ST. Green
vegetables are not plentiful and the demand
for them Is correspondingly light. Fruits
are plentiful and moderate prices rule.