Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-31
NOW FOR SOFT CRABS
Only as Large as a Quarter,
but Sell Readily.
SHAD IN THE MARKET
WILL SOON BE CHEAP ENOUGH
FOR PLANKING.
Fruits and Vegetables Make an Attrac-
tive Appearance - Tomatoes From
Florida-Game Season Closed.
SHAD IN TIE MARKET

Soft crabs, about as big as a twenty five
cent piece are to be had in the local mar
ket The first shipment from South Caro-
lima reached here yesterday and found
ready sale at $1.50 dozen. Anglers will
be good customers for them in few days
Il the river clears, for then white perch
fishing will begin, and soft crabs make the
most attractive bait for them. The high
price will not brighten the anglers, for
when the big perch are biting they will pay
any price for the bait that will give them
a good days sport Soft crabs on toast
are to be had at some of the restaurants,
but it will require several orders of them
to satisfy an ordinary appetite. Hard crabs
are more plentiful, but they are not yet in
good condition. Crab meat, fresh picked
and not frozen, is bringing So cents quart.
Shells are furnished with the meat in order
that purchasers may prepare deviled crabs.
Potomac shad and herring are cheaper than
they were last week and are trif1e more
plentiful.
"a shad is a shad," remarked a local
dealer to Star reporter this morning,
and very few purchasers now ask if they
are from the Potomac or Chesapeake
Roe Shad are selling al 60 cents each, and
the roe sell at 30 cents a pair. Buck shad
are to be had at 50 cents each. Shad will
soon be cheap enough to be used for plank
the excursion season will open. Rock fish
are getting more plentiful every day, and
the large fish for boiling are selling at %
cents a pound. while pan rock are to be had
for ID cents. Perch from the Potomac that
have been out of the water but few hours
are to be had at the rate of Is cents a
pound, and Potomac herring are now sell
ing at 30 cents a dozen. Thirty cents a
pound is the price asked for salmon and
halibut is 20 cents. Other fish are cheaper
Red snapper, cod and speckled trout are
1212 cents, and smelts and mackerel are l.
cents a pound. After today bass will be ou
of season for two months. The bass thai
have been caught since the opening of the
river have been of the best quality ant
have not brought high prices.
Fruits and Vegetables.
The bright colors of the fresh sprina
benches an attractive appearance. Boxes
of Strawberries and punches of rhubart
scattered among the fresh lettuce from
Norfolk and early green vegetables from
this section present an array of colors cal
culated TO attract buyers Big tomatoe:
from Florida, the finest that ehave been il
market this season." are selling at % cents
pound or $150 a basket Cucumbers
from the same place are 10 cents each, aht
dollhouse stock brings 10 cents. Berries
and 90 cents a box. California and Florida
celery have taken the place of the home
grown product. Ten cents a bunch is the
price asked for it. Florida grape fruit is
not SO plentiful and is selling at from II
to 10 cents each. New beets from Florida
are bringing ID cents bunch. Radishes
are not so plentiful Spinach which was
made a luxury during the winter months
because of its high price, is now selling al
% cents peck.
Game Season Closes.
Today brings to a close the season for
game. After today 1t Is a violation of law
for a dealer other person to have wild
ducks and most other species of game in
his possession. The season has been a long
one and most game has been plentiful
The high price of poultry has made the
demand for game greater than usual this
season. Squads will take the place OF
game to a great extent and broilng chick
ems will be In greater demand. There has
been no change in the price of poultry
since last week. Spring chickens are get
ting more plentiful each day, but the in
crease has not been great enough to cause
decrease in price. There is. still some
demand for turkeys at % cents a pound.
There has been an increase in the whole
sale price of Elgin butter of about 3 cents
since last week, but retail dealers have not
increased the price. 1t has been but a
short time since they lowered the price OF
butter after the severe spell of winter
weather and shortage in the output, and
retailers think that the present increase
will last only few days. They know that
an increase in the price at this time would
cause many complaints to be made and are
doing their best to avoid giving cause for
such complaints. The egg market has I'M
dergone no change since last week. Eggs
are selling at 20 cents dozen, while Sc
lected stock sells at an advance of cents.
There has been no change lin the meat mar
ket during the past week: