Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-15
TN THE LOCAL MARKETS
SUPPLY OF HARD AND SOFT
CRABS EQUAL TO DEMAND.

Dealers. in marine products are displaying
interest In the crab supply at this season
because OF the great demand for the she'll
fish Both hard and soft crabs are much
wanted at this season. the former for crab
feasts and the latter to be served In dining
rooms and hotels. 1t Is stated by local deal
ers that the supply of hard crabs this year
has been larger and much better than last
season. A year ago dealers experienced
diff1cufty in obtaining crabs sufficient to
supply the demand, and the prices for q
time were so high that some of those who
served them were compelled to ask adj
vanced prices. This year. however, the
supply is about equal to the demand. and
dealers are having no trouble filling orders.
A number of the places where crabs are
served have their crabs sent from Anna po-
lis, Norfolk and points along the Potomac
river. Some of the Annapolis shippers cook
them before they are sent from there, but
such crabs. 1t Is stated do not retain the
flavor as well as those that are cooked here.
Some of the local dealers also cook them
use.
THE great demand for crabs to be served
In gardens and restaurants" a local dealer
remarked to a Star reporter, has been IF
great advantage to those engaged In the
crab industry along the Potomac river and
Chesapeake bay. Where few barrels wore
enough to supply the trade several years
ago, hundreds of barrels are now needed"
Depend Upon the Shippers.
While dealers depend upon the shippers
along the Potomac and at Norfolk for their
supplies, many crabs caught In the VT
entity of Hampton by the inmates of the
Soldiers Home and shipped here The soft
crab trade is supplied by shippers down the
Potomac, along the bay and by dealers On
the eastern shore Of Maryland. 1t is said
that the best soft crabs that are to be had
in the local market come from the vicinity
of Crisfield and Oxford. The crabs from
that section are better than those caught
In the Potomac, the dealers say, and they
bring better prices. The market was gut
ted with soft crabs last week, but this week
they are not so plentiful. They are larger
and in better condition than usual, now
ever, and lealers were asking 75 cents a
dozen for selected stock this morning. Crab
meat and crab fake are also in demand,
the prices charged being about the same
charged last week.
There is demand for Potomac bass,
but the scarcity of the fish renders 1t diff
fcult to fill orders. Very few bass. or
chub the plymouth variety is known,
are being caught in the small nets along
the Potomac Some good catches are being
made in North Carolina, however, and the
fish find ready sale in the local market at
10 cents pound. Boston mackerel, Span
isi1 mackerel. sheepshead. halibut, salmon.
perch and other fish that are to be found
In the market at this season are selling
about the prices that were asked for them
last week. Sturgeon are not so plentiful,
and the demand Is SO great that 1t is COM
handing higher prices. the best selling at
20 cents a pound. Frogs are being re-
ceived from points near the city, but the
supply is not great enough for the demand.
Sixty cents a pound is the price charged.
Wet Weather and Vegetables.
While the continued wet weather Is be-
ginning to show it's effect on the fruits and
vegetables In this section the local dealers
are not yet complaining OF shortage.
They are still obtaining supplies from a
distance, not depending upon the local
growers. Some of the latter are complain
ing, however, finding as much fault with
the continued wet weather as they did
when they were clamoring for rain. Rad
ishes, lettuce. onions. beets, carrots and
other small vegetables are plentiful and
cheap but should the wet season continue
much longer, growers say, the supply will
get short and prices will necessarily ad-
vance
Potatoes grown in this section are not
yet ready for market, although Norfolk
growers have been shipping them here dur
Ing the past month. They are still high,
and, 1t is said, local merchants who con-
tracted last fall to supply the government
have lost money. Melons and canteloupes
are becoming more plentiful and cheaper
the melons selling at from 30 to rs cents
each and the canteloupes from 5 to 10
cents The quality Of the canteloupes has
greatly improved during the past few
days. 1t is said by the dealers, and the
melons are in splendid condition Oranges
are holding up better this year than usual
and are quoted at from 40 to 10 cents
dozen. Lemons are scarce and high the
scarcity. it is said, being due to the fall
ure OF the crop. They are selling at from
20 to 30 cents dozen. Lines are more
plentiful and they are being used, to some
extent, In place OF lemons The straw
perry season is on the wane not many OF
the berries being In first-class condition.
They are still In demand however. and
find ready sale at from 10 to 15 cents q
pox New corn is to be had at from GO to
20 cents Dozen Some Of It comes from
Georgia and some from Florida
Condition Of Meat Market.
The meat market has undergone but little
change during the past week. 1t la stated
that the report of the Reynolds-Neill In
vesugation has had some little effect upon
the market and caused consumers to
exercise more care in selecting meats. Beef
products, 1t is stated. are to be had at rea-
sonable prices, but pork products are higher
than they have been during the past few
weeks. 1t is stated that they are usually
higher at this season. There has been prac-
ticaiiy no change in the poultry market
during the past week. Spring chickens are
still in great demand, local dealers obtain
ing from % to 30 cents a pound for dressed
chickens. Most of the spring chickens that
are handled in the markets are received
from Maryland and Virginia, few of them
also coming from Tennessee
Butter has advanced one-half cent pound
since last week, bat the change has not
affected the retail price OF the dairy prod
uct The price of eggs has also shown an
advance, the prices ranging from % to
~ cents. It Is stated by the dealers that
1t Is a difficult matter to get fresh eggs
sufficient to supply the demand. During the
season that the farmers are harvesting. it
is stated. many more eggs are consumed in
the country, and the consumption is great
enough to cause shortage In the supply
that Is received in the city