Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-27
IN THE LOCALMARKET
VOICE OF STREET HUCKsTER rs
CALLING "sTRAwBERRIEsp

The voice Of the street huckster calling
'strawberries'' is regarded as an indication
that the fruit is becoming more plentiful.
and visit to the local market is sufficient
to convince the visitor of that fact. While
the street hucksters are selling the berries
as low as two boxes for . cents the mar
ket dealers are asking higher price.
But" a dealer in the market remarked
today there Is a difference in the boxes
and in some instances difference In the
fruit"
1t is a common thing to see street mer-
chants seated at the wholesale market
culling berries, putting the ''off ones In
the bottom and the attractive fruit on top.
Those who understand how to arrange the
berries, it is stated, manage to fill three
boxes with two of the boxes as they are
packed for shipment here by the growers.
Dealers in the market were selling berries
at 20 and % cents box today and the
fruit was of fine quality. The pineapple
season is backward this year and dealers
are unable to account for the scarcity when
the apples should be plentiful and cheap.
They are bringing from 20 to 40 cents each,
and no big ones are to be had. Apples,
oranges and lemons selling at about
their usual prices and bananas are plenti-
full and cheap, selling at from to 10 cents
a dozen.
Tomatoes Are Plentiful.
Tomatoes are more plentiful than they
have been at this season for a number or
years. They are of much better quality
than usual and are in demand at from 121a
to 20 cents pound. Wax beans of good
size and quality are to be found upon the
benches in the local markets. and SELL
ing at the price that Is asked for the ordt-
nary green string beans-25 cents quar-
ter peck. Asparagus Is now coming to the
local market from Norfolk, and it is in
fine condition. Dealers are selling 1t in
punches of various sizes. charging from
10 to 40 cents a bunch New potatoes from
Florida and North Carolina are being re-
ceived In large quantities and are retailing
at from IL to % cents a quarter peck. Those
from Florida are no larger than the Caro-
INA potatoes, but are of different color,
the former showing the effects of being
grown In rcd soil and the latter being al
most black Rhubarb or pie plant is in de-
mand. being much better now than it will
be later. 1t is plentiful and cheap. Gu
cumbers are selling at from to 10 cents
each and lettuce is commanding prices
ranging from to 10 cents a head.
A generous assortment of other vege-
tables is in market. spring onions, radishes,
beets. carrots and other products selling at
reasonable prices.
Potomac Shad is Scarce.
The weather has been such the fish mar
ket has shown up splendidly all this spring,
but Potomac river fish have not been suf-
ficiently plentiful to keep the benches we'll
filled.
Il don't know what some of the fisher
men are going to do this season." a dealer
said Here We are in the middle Of the
season and some days no shad Is brought
to the river 'front.'
Dealers have had to patronize other mar
kets, securing shad from Baltimore and
Havre de Grace. Roe shad are selling at
90 cents each and the bucks are 80 cents.
rnA ~, 1,nl nr
market. and are selling at 30 cents each.
They weigh about two pounds and are In
great demand. Spanish mackerel are plen-
tiful and in demand at ID cents pound.
The first swapping turtles of the season
have appeared in the local market. and are
finding ready sale at 121a cents pound.
White perch are 10 cents pound. rock,
121a and 20 cents and founders, II cents a
pound Soft crabs are selling at 90 and
10 cents a dozen, and the choicest flake
crab meat is $1.50 a gallon. Frogs are be-
coming more plentiful, and ara selling at
from $50 to 81 a dozen.
Putting Eggs Away.
Packers are putting away eggs, paying
II cents q dozen for them. 1t is because
of the great quantities of eggs being put
in cold storage that the prices remain high.
There has been an increase of cents
dozen In the price of eggs since last week,
and II is stated, a decrease would follow
should the packers hold off for short
while. There is no likelihood of their do
ins so, however, so long as they are able
to procure eggs for II cents.
Il expect to get 50 a case for my eggs
next winter" one dealer Is reported TO
have remarked.
A case of eggs put away at this season
will stand the packer 1855 next winter,
dealer explained to @ Star reporter, and
in order to get 50 a case for them they
will have to sell at 80 cents a dozen. Many
small consumers, 1t is stated, will also put
away eggs for winter use later In the sea-
son. 1t is stated that eggs that are
creased and put away in lime and salt
solution Will keep all the winter, and per-
sons who have put them away say they
have saved many dollars. Local dealers
are retailing eggs at 20 cents q dozen this
week, selected stock and specials selling as
high 25 cents.
Butter and Fowls.
Practically no change is noted in the but
ter market since last week. Butter Is be-
coming more plentiful, and packers Will
begin putting 1t away In about six weeks.
Dealers are complaining of a scarcity OF
fowls this week, which has caused an In
crease in the prices to 1S and 70 cents a
pound. Spring chickens are more plenti-
full, but the increase in the supply has not
yet been sufficiently great to cause a de-
crease in the prices. The choicest OF the
young chickens are bringing 40 and 45 cen g
a pound. Turkeys are selling at ~ and ~
cents a pound, but the demand for them
is not large. Long Island ducks, broIing
chickens and frying fowls are quoted at
% cents a pound, capons selling at the
same price The demand for fowls is con-
stantly increasing, and dealers expect re-
ceipts will be much heavier In the near
future.