Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-22
IN THE LOCAL MARKETS
SLIGHT ADVANCE IN THE PRICE
OF EGGS NOTED.
Best Meats Scarce and Quoted High
Scarcity of Poultry-vege-
tables and Fish.

prices for most of the market supplies still
prevailing. Last week eggs were cheaper
than they have been in a number Of months,
and 1t was thought that the low figures
would continue, but some of the larger
dealers put away hundreds Of crates of
eggs in cold storage, and the result is an
increase in the price; but the increase thus
far has been but 2 cents dozen. Eggs
that were to be had last week at Is and
20 cents are quoted at from 20 to % cents
this week. 1t is said that eggs are being
stored for the winter trade in many other
cities.
And" remarked a dealer this morning
there is nothing that can run the prices
up quicker than the storage Of them.
When the big buyers begin to put away
thousands of cases of eggs week it is
only natural that they should become
scarce and higher
Shippers are still sending in large quaint
ties OF eggs, but SO long as they can he
bought at prices low enough to guarantee
profit to the packers in putting them
away they are not likely to get cheaper.
The butter market is still firm and prices
are about the same as they were a week
ago 1t is thought, however, that prices
will show a decrease as soon as cattle are
3ble to get grass.
The Meat Prices.
Butchers say the appearance of grass
enough in the pastures to feed cattle will
have some effect upon the meat market.
Beef, they say, is always high when there
is no grass upon which cattle can feed and
1t Is at this time of the season that grass
is always scarce. While the best meat is
scarce and high, there are grades that are
to be had a low figures. The cut-rate or
cheap meat is in great demand, but, 1t is
stated, there Is not much sale for the high
er-price grades. Meat has been scarce on
account of the floods, but since the waters
ho,a haa Oil
through and there is at present no scarcity
of supplies.
There are plenty of spring lambs in the
market now, one of the butchers remark
ed to a Star reporter this morning, but
the meat is unusually high. People who
raised early lambs this year have received
good prices for them. 1t is nothing unusual
for dealer to pay s. or 50 for a lamb, and
1t Is necessary that they should get $11 or
$l2 Tor 1t at retail in order to make any
profit"
1t Is said that prices of meat in the west
show decline, and it Is thought the local
market Will improve in the near future.
Poultry Scarce.
Poultry dealers are having a hard time to
get supplies enough to fill the demand
Those who have been in business in the
local market never knew spring chickens to
be so scarce and high before
And they are later reaching the market
ers today. Heretofore great many young
incubator chickens reached the markets
earlier than this and it paid those who
raised them to have them early, but this
year there are practically no such chickens
to be had, and We are depending almost
wholly upon frozen stock. Last week some
OF the New York hotel proprietors paid
much as S2.15 a pair for chickens which
weighed about one pound each, but no such
prices could be obtained here. With most
patrons of the T'arkets Il limit of about 80
cents is placed upon chickens intended for
broiling."
Broiling chickens are so scarce now that
dealers are getting as much as 80 cents a
pound for them, some of the frozen chick
ems selling as low as % cents. Fowls are
higher this spring than local dealers have
ever known them to have been before. Six
teen cents a pound is the average price, but
this year they are scarce at 20 cents. Capons
are % cents a pound; ducks 20 cents and
geese are 10 cents pound. Fresh killed
turkeys are quoted at % cents and dealers
think the price will not change to any ap-
preciable extent between now and the
Easter holidays. Milk-fed roasting chickens
are quoted at % cents a pound. but it is
stated, not a great many of them are sold
here because of the price.
The season for game is about over. Last
week ended the season for quail, and ducks
will not be in season after March 81.
Squads taking the place of these fowls,
the Philadelphia SQUAD being in greatest
demand. They are selling at So cents each.
vegetables and Fruits.
Southern shippers are still supplying the
local markets with good things in the line
of vegetables and Strawberries. A decided
improvement has been experienced in the
quality of the Strawberries received here
during the past two weeks, but there has
been but little lowering of prices. Today
large ripe berries We're selling at from 35
to so cents a box. Those offered this
morning had been picked when they were
ripe enough to have the genuine flavor of
the strawberry and they were attractive.
Wax beans, string beans and peas gave
the market springtime appearance, the
vegetables appearing as if they had not
been picked more than a few hours. They
were quoted at 25 cents a quarter-peck
Onions from Bermuda were selling at 10
cents pint box, the Bermuda potatoes
bringing y cents quarter peck. Three
Spanish onions sell for 10 cents.
Rhubarb and asparagus are leaders in the
vegetable market The former is always
In demand early in the season. and the
latter as long there is any of it to be
had. Rhubarb Is selling at the rate of 10
cents for small bunch, asparagus selling
at from Is TO IS cents bunch. Radishes
and spring onions are getting more plenti-
full. the former selling at the rate Of 10
cents for three punches and the latter at
One-half that price. Lettuce is getting more
plentiful and cheaper, dealers selling headed
exceptionally good this season and are
selling at from Is to % cents pound.
Inere Is an increasing demand for new
cabbage at from 10 to 20 cents q head
egg plants, 10 to Is cents; Florida cucum-
bers, to Is cents: peppers, 8 and 10 cents
and new. beets. 10 cents a bunch. Celery
Is still plentiful and the usual prices from
to Is cents stalk, prevail. New mint is
cents a bunch.
Fish Market.
There has been decided improvement
in the condition Of the fish market since
last week, and as soon as the high water
recedes fish will probably become cheaper
Shad are becoming more plentiful. but
they are not yet selling at prices that are
considered low. Milt shad are to be had at
from SO to IS cents, the usual prices at
this season ranging from 10 to 20 cents;
the row shad bring from 81 to $3.50 each.
Not many of the shad are being caught
in the Potomac river, but dealers are get
ting some herring from the lower Potomac.
Herring are selling at the rate Of SO cents
dozen. being about ten times more than
the price they brought this time last year.
Some large white perch are being caught
in the creeks along the lower Potomac,
and are about as fine as dealers have re-
ceived from the Potomac fisheries in sew
eral years. The larger ones are selling at
20 cents pound, the smaller ones for Is
cents. Mary large rock fish are also