Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-11
BUSINESS DECREASES
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
OTHER CAUSES ASSIGNED.
Local Markets Stocked With Toothsome
Edibles-Prices Undergo but
Little Change.

The exodus Of people to the seaside and
mountain resorts and the great amount OF
wet weather formed a combination which
has caused a decided decrease in business
| in the local markets. At the Center mar
ket the effects of these conditions. are felt
more than they are at the smaller business
places, and merchants are complaining OF
| the dull season.
ITS a good thing that the tide was low
when we had the heavy rain Tuesday" re-
marked one of the dealers to Star re-
porter. IF 1t had been high. I'm afraid
the place would have been flooded and
there would have been a temporary suspen-
sion of business"
Despite the changeable weather and
numerous rains the dealers find no diff
Guilty In getting supplies enough for the
demand. Tomatoes and canteloupes are be-
ginning to show the effects Of the wet
weather. the former cracking and the lat
ter losing their sweetness. There are still
many good canteloupes, however. They. are
selling at from 1 to. % cents each. accord
ing to size and quality, and tomatoes are
quoted at from Is to 70 cents a box.
Almost everything in the line Of vege-
tables Is plentiful corn. cabbage, onions
and all kinds of green vegetables selling at
low prices A few watermelons from the
surrounding country are in the local mar
kets, but most of them are coming from
down the river and from the vicinity Of
Norfolk They are also cheap. Crab
apples are rather plentiful, and are in de-
mand for jellies and preserves. The best
of them are bringing 80 cents a peck.
Peaches are also getting more plentiful and
the fruit is of the choicest quality.
Good Grade Of Peaches.
Some of the finest peaches ever seen on
the local markets are to be had now. They
are from Calvert county, Maryland. near
Chesapeake Beach, and are bringing as
much So a box. Peaches from western
Maryland will also be In market shortly
and then. 1t Is expected, they will be
cheaper.
Celery fed ducks are considered by deal
ers to be the leader of the poultry market
just now Some of them are from Long
Island and others are from the big duck
farms in the vicinity of Riverton. Va. The
price charged for them ranges from 20 to
% cents a pound at this season, while the
white Picking ducks sell at 90 cents Spring
chickens are a trifle cheaper than they
were last week, dressed ones selling at IS
and 20 cents pound. local dealer re-
ceived a communication from a turkey
raiser this week offering to ship him tur-
keys for broilers, but no such fowls were
wanted. The price at which they were
quoted was As cents pound and the tur-
keys weigh about three pounds.
In New York and some other cities in
the north broiled turkeys served in all
the first-class restaurants, s3, 1t is stated,
DclnR the price OF an OrQer. SQUADS ana
woodcock are the only birds to be had at
this season. Woodcock are not plentiful or
In good condition and are considered ex-
pensive at 60 cents each Squads are plen-
tiful and In good condition, and are to be
had for % cents a piece.
Fish Market Inactive.
The fish market Is always quiet at this
season, and dealers carrying but small
stocks in order that they may always be
able to furnish fresh products to their Gus
toners. Crabs are taking the place of fish
to a great extent now and the shell fish
are in demand They are in better condi-
ton than they were earlier In the season
and are so plentiful that de llers are al
ways able TO supply the demand This is
about the height of the season for soft
crabs and the best OF them are selling a I
80 cents dozen. Crab meat and shrimp
are also plentiful Black sea bass and
weak fish, the cheapest fish to be found on
the benches of the market dealers, are con-
sidered better than many of the more ex-
pensive varieties Norfolk spots at 30 cents
a dozen find ready sale, and Spanish mack
erel rock, Boston mackerel halibut, cod
and salmon in season.
The butter ard egg market is firm,
slight advance being noted in the whole
sale price since last week. There has been
a slight increase in the retail price of eggs,
today's prices ranging from % 10 - cents
a dSzen. A further increase in the price
of cheese is also reported. a local dealer
said he was told that an English buyer
bought 1860 boxes of New York cheese last
week TO export. Quantities of renovated
shipped to England. These heavy ship
ments, he slid, also affect the prices of
butter The meat market is easy and the
demand light.