Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
IN THE LOCAL MARKET
s-
Effect Of Weather on Supplies
Not Noticeable.
FISH SUPPLY PLENTIFUL
Wild Ducks Not Regarded Generally
as in Good Condition.
SCARCITY OF FOOD THE CAUSE
Quotations on Fruits and Vegetables
Considered to Be Reasonable
Meat Market Conditions.
SCARCITY OF FOOD THE CAUSE

Despite the long spell of severe weather
and the frozen condition of many OF the
rivers from which dealers in marine prod
ucts get their supplies, the condition OF the
fish benches in the local markets this morn
ing presented a sight which did not 1ndl-
cate prospective shortage of Lenten food.
Some of the dealers complained that nsh
were scarce and that some of them were
high, but they reasoned that the prices were
reasonable when they considered the
weather conditions. There were on view at
tractive displays of shad, herring, white
perch. bass and numerous other fish from
the Chesapeake bay, its tributaries and
other bodies of water. Brook trout, frogs
and crab meat were the products of the
water that were spoken of by the dealers
as being deiicacies.
Pretty, though costly. brook trout from
the propagatlng ponds in pennsylvania
were more plentiful than usual, persons
who can afford them being willing to pay
from IS cents to 81 pound for them. They
always command high prices, the QUOTA
lions. however. today being considered rea-
sonable Crab meat and crab flake have
appeared in the local market rather early,
and the first arrival is of excellent quality,
the meat selling at 30 cents a quart and
the flake at 40 and 30 cents. The meat is
used chiefly for deviled crabs. 1t is stated
that the crab supply is being sent here from
Norfolk the eastern shore shippers not
having started the 1907 season. Only frozen
frogs are in the market at this time. and
80 cents pound is the price charged for
them.
Choice Roe Shad.
The choicest roe shad were quoted at 50
each this morning and they were not plenti-
full at that price. NJ It shad brought IS
cents. Dealers say the shad from Georgia
.,C
those that are caught in the Potomac A
few shad were caught in the Potomac last
month. and the fish would probably have
been plentiful by this time had it not been
for the cold spell. There is plenty of ice
in the lower Potomac, and until most Of it
has disappeared the fishermen will not put
out their nets. Some particularly fine white
perch were on the benches in the market
this morning, having been caught in the
vicinity of Norfolk The largest of them
brought 20 and % cents a pound, the
smaller ones selling at Is cents. Oyster
crabs, from the Norfolk packers, are to be
had at 81 a pint. Live or cooked Holsters
are selling at 80 cents a pound, the shell
being caught. Shrimp are plentiful at 81 a
gallon, and CLAIMS are 10 cents a dozen or
80 cents quart. CLANS are in great de-
mand during the Lenten season, but they
are not yet plentiful.
Salmon steaks are quoted at % cents a
pound-not- quite so high as usuaEand
halibut is 90 cents pound, the charge for
this fish being about the same at all sea-
sons. Rock fish are scarce and high deal
ers being able to get but few of them.
There is good supply of jumping mullets
to be had and many of them, it is said, are
sold for rock. Spanish mackerel and bass
are each 20 cents a pound, and king mack
erel are selling at II cents a pound. Snap
ping turtles and slders are plentiful, the
former selling at 10 cents a pound and the
latter at from % to rs cents each. =
Quotations on Wild Fowl.
Wild ducks are more plentiful than they
were earlier in the season and while some
of them are in good condition there are
some noted as thin. Such game is absolute
ly worthless and is not offered by dealers
in the markets.
1.-The ducks will get poorer from now un-
til the close of the season. remarked a
dealer this morning, because there is not
much food that they can get. The wild
celery has been frozen for so long time
that it is about worthless, and the ducks
have to depend largely upon fish for food. u
The duck season closes the last day OF
next month and from now until that time
dealers will do what they can to get rid
of their stock before that time. The sea-
son for quail will close the 18th of next
month. DUAL hav not been plentiful this
mornings supply of poultry showed that
market to be in splendid condition. There
was no scarcity of turkeys. chickens OF
ducks and the prices were about the same
as those quoted last week.
Fruits and Vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are plentiful" said
a produce dealer this morning, land wher
the season of the year is considered the
prices are not high
The dealer spoke of the~price of celery tc
illustrate what he meant. Celery is shipped
here from New York, Michigan and Florida
at this season of the year and is sold al
prices lower than what is asked for the
product of the truckers near this city.
when a good stalk of celery can be had
at this time of the year for a nickel or a
dime" he added, "it seems to me that there
Is no cause for complaint. The demand fol-
fresh produce is greater at this season than
it was during the winter months years ago
buyers preferring them to the canned
goods
Strawberries are getting more plentiful
and the prices are correspondngly lower
Berries are quoted at from . to 30 cents
box this morning Apples and oranges
are still plentiful and moderate prices pre-
vail. Green vegetables, such as lettuce
radishes and onions, are plentiful, dealers
depending upon Florida growers for theil
lettuce. The headed lettuce from Florida
is about the size of an ordinary head OF
cabbage, the prices charged for them rang
ing from to Is cents.
Fifteen cents for a head of lettuce seem.
like big price, said produce dealer thi.
morning, but in reality it is cheap. Ont
head of this lettuce gives a larger supply
than lettuce that is grown in this section
of the country during the summer tina
would cost twice as much money
But he added, people don't seem t.
consider anything but the outlay they max.
at the time Of purchase"
No Improvement Noted.
There has been no improvement in tn,
| meat market since last week. All porl
products are high, the advanced prices be
ing caused by the scarcity of pork. Dealer!
| think relief will come in the near future
however, as country people will kill ant
haul many hogs as soon as there is a chang
| in the weather conditions and the roads ar,
| In condition for hauling. Spring lambs ar
| scarce and high, dealers paying as much a.
So for them Veal is also scarce and high
the price being higher than 1t has been 70
several years. Receipts of all meats ar
light, but increased shipments are expecte'
| in short while.
I prfces Of h,ttar h,ua urIar.oxa vro ~;