Milford chronicle., 1907-01-11
Stuffed Geese at High Price.

DkuAAEA WGN1e -
TThe following clipping from the Min
neapolis Leader, was sent to the CHRoNI-
GLE by A. J. Clendaniel, from Wstertown,
Wisconsin. 1t will be remembered that
we published an item on this subject one
wear ago, which caused much comment,
and we publish this item of news to give
information to those who may have fol-
lowed the matter up.-EDToR].
Imagine a dressed goose weighing thir-
tv-five pounds and thousand OF its mates
averaging from twenty-four to twenty
seven pounds, and you get some idea oil
what is known all over the United States
as"noodled' or stuffed goose. This city Is
noted as the only market in the country
for this class of poultry, which is annual
" sought after and purchased by the
weather. Jewish families in the United
States The demand this year has been
larger than many previous years, but the
supply seems sufficient to meet It, Inc
largest stuffed goose marketed this sea-
son was shipped to man in La Crosse,
who didn't believe that such fowl were
ever brought to market. By this time
he is probably convinced, as the thirty
five pounder was sent him at cost OF
Sl2.54. That's a big price for goose,
and if the farmer could raise and stuff
them all to that weight he would soon
ba Il, tba millionaire class
The stuffed goose industry in the coun-
try adjacent to WatertOwn is assuming
large proportions, and is growing each
wear. They are not marketed like their
relatives of the ordinary variety, but are
only shipped upon orders from the local
dealer. who in turn has orders many
months in advance from purchasers scat
tered all the way from Canada to the
Gulf of Mexico and from New York to
San Francisco. A large amount goes to
Milwaukee, but the lions share is ship
ped to New York City. When it is re-
membered that one dealer in this city
has contracts to deliver 5000 stuffed
geese, can be seen to what proportions 1t
has grown. There are three dealers here,
Min the aggregate it means about 8, 200
geese, which means an outlay of about
$4,000
The stuffed goose is highly priced for
its large liver, from which the dish known
as pate de foie gras is made. The liyers
bring 81 a pound. A few seasons ago a
goose which was slightly damaged in
dressing was drawn and the liver weighed
four and three-quarter pounds, the fowl
weighing thirty-six pounds.
The charge of cruelty set up several
years ago on the statement that the geese
we're nailed to the barn floors by their
feet was probably the imagination Of
some one who never took the trouble to
investigate, as the geese are first raised or
purchased with the idea of forming large
fowls They are fed like the other geese
until the time for shipping come on, the
period lasting from three to four weeks.
If the geese are not disturbed or frighten-
ed during the shipping period three
weeks is sufficient but they lose flesh
rapidly when disturbed by unnatural
causes. In that case the shipping process
may last four weeks.
For the first two weeks of the shipping
period the geese are fed at intervals OF
few hours during the day and until late
at night, but in the third week great care
must be exercised, as then the stuffing
goes on every few hours, day and night
There is always plenty of water at hand,
so they may drink freely, but the owner
must be careful or the goose may be over
fed and die Ihe noodles are made OF
rye -four, wheat flour and cornmeal, and
the dough is baked. When ready to use
the noodles are soaked in water until they
become softened and are then stuffed into
the goose. It requires time and patience,
as the operator must take each fowl sep
aratelv and administer the food. Most Of
the work is done by the women.
The stuffed goose is not table fowl,
in fact, there is little upon its carcass
which enters upon the table as meat
dish. Aside from the liver the goose is
reduced to lard, which is used in place
of butter on the tables OF those who can
afford the deicacy The skin OF the
goose is also utilized and makes a palata-
BILE dish after being fried. 1t is crisp and
of excellent flavor, and is known as the
Jewish cracker
The price paid for stuffed geese varies
according to the average weight OF the
geese. The market price for contracts is
the price per pound which they average.
One lot sold here this week averaged