Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-04
IN THE LOCALMARKETS
RECEIPTS OF HARD AND SOFT
CRABS INCREASING.
Strawberries and Pineapples Leaders
Among the Fruits-Spring Chick
ems by the Thousand.

Crab feasts will soon be IN order. The
demand for hard crabs, 1t is predicted. will
be greater than the supply Dealers in
marine products say that although 1t is
yet early In the season the crabs are in
splendid condition. Receipts OF hard crabs
are also increasing each day, and, 1t is
stated shippers no longer have to resort
to drags to get the crabs out of the mud.
The crabs. they say, no longer have the
favor of the mud, and some of them are
about as fat as crabs usually are In the
summer season. While most of the crabs
are brought here alive, some of them are
cooked and shipped from points along the
Chesapeake bay. Because of the increasing
demand the inspectors of the health depart
Il .ent will proba bly, get busy in a few days
and condemn the dead crabs. Hard crabs
retail at - cents a dozen. Soft crabs were
scarce early in the week, but they are be-
coming more plentiful, and dealers are re-
ceiving sufficient to supply the demand.
The prices charged today ranged from 10
cents to S1.50 dozen.
Frogs are also more plentiful and are
selling at - cents each or 30 cents pound.
Swapping turtles and sioers are in season,
and the demand is Increasing. The former
arc retailed at 10 cents pound and the
Ia tier sell from % cents to 10 cents each.
V hite perch from the Potomac fishing
shores appearing in increased numbers,
but most of them are small and are to be
had for 10 cents a pound. The few larger
ones are selling at 1919 cents. Boston ana
Spanish mackerel are plentiful, and the de-
niand is good, the former bringing 40 cents
each and the latter 10 cents a pound
Fresh-caught speckled trout from Chesa-
peake bay are in demand and are consid-
cred cheap at 1919 cents a pound. Roe shad
are quoted at so cents; bluefsh, l21a cents
a pound; salmon. % cents; halibut. 30 cents,
and fresh cod, 12l2 cents pound.
Strawberries and Pineapples.
Strawberries and pineaplles are leaders
In tic fruit market. Pines" as the deal
ers call Them have been unusually scarce
this spring. but the supply has Increased
during the past few days, with a cores
pondng decrease in price. Good fruit Is
to be had at prices ranging from 10 cents
to % cents. Strawberries are getting pet
ter, more plentiful and cheaper, the prices
ranging from two boxes for a quarter u
a quarter q box Apples and oranges have
undergone but little, If any change during
the past week. Spring vegetables are more
plentiful and cheaper. Asparagus is be
ing cut by the growers in this section and
the shipments from North Carolina are
large enough to AFFECT the market and
lower the prices. Peas are more plentlfui
and cheaper, and lettuce is a trifie higher.
Tomatoes are plentiful and In demand at
IS cents and 20 cents a pound.
Poultry ralsers are sending spring chick
ems to the local market in increased num-
bers, and the price asked for them is some
what cheaper than 1t was week ago,
80 cents a pound being the prevailing
price. These young chickens are being re-
ceved by the thousand. but the demand
is sufficient to keep the benches clear.
Roasting chickens selling at - cents
a pound and fowls are IL cents. Turkeys
are quoted at 70 cents a pound, but the
demand is not great. A few spring ducks
are being received by local dealers and
are selling at - cents a pound.
Practically no change is noted In the
butter and egg market since last week
Country people are hauling eggs and they
are retailing at 20 cents a dozen, some
dealers asking as much as 20 cents for
selected stock. Packers are still getting
them at prices cheap enough for speculation
and thousands of dozens of the fresh stock
are finding their way to the cold storage
houses.