Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-31
SMALL FRUITS ABUNDANT
CANTALoUPEs, CHERRIES AND
PEACHES IN LOCAL MARKET.
Improvement Shown in Vegetables as
Season Advances-Soft Crabs and
Other Marine Products

| AantaiOupeS, CnerrleS. peaches ana black
berries are to be found upon the benches
of the fruit dealers in the local markets
! Strawberries have been in market for so
| long a time that buyers looking for
something new in the line of small fruits
| Good Cantaloupes are always in demand
and always bring good prices. The early
stock this year, the dealers say, is far su-
perior to the average received at this sea-
son of the year in appearance and taste.
| They are selling at from 10 to 20 cents each,
and dealers have no trouble in getting rid
| of them at the prices quoted. The cherries
| that are In market at this season are from
| California. They are shipped in boxes hold
ing about thirty pounds and are retailing
| at from 30 to 40 cents pound.
BlackberrieS from the south are not as
| attractive as are those grown in this sec
| ton, and the demand for them at IS cents
| box Is not great. Peaches that are to be
had at this season are from Georgia. There
| are several grades and the price Is regu-
| lated by the quality. Strawberries from
| the surrounding country are getting more
| plentiful and cheaper. Good berries are to
| be had at 10 cents box. the choicest Of
them bringing much Is cents. Pine
| apples are more plentiful and cheaper, SELL
! ing at from 10 to % cents Oranges are
not so plentiful and higher prices prevail.
They are quoted at from 30 to 90 cents
| dozen. Apples are also scarce and high,
the best bringing 81 peck. Lemons are
| selling at 20 cents dozen, and bananas
| are to be had at from ) to 10 cents dozen.
Improvement Shown.
AS the season progresses there is a big
| Improvement shown in the vegetable mar
| ket. Growers in this section are furnishing
| early peas to the market Dealers early
| June peas selling at 10 cents a quarter
peck, others Is cents. No string beans have
! yet been picked by the local growers. The
l boil
| to the lettuce crop, but the growers hope
| for recovery from the damage in a few
days. The hall cut the growing vegetable
and caused a shortage in the supply, but
lettuce enough to supply the demands have
been received from other sections. New
potatoes are getting more plentiful. but the
demand Is also increasing and the prices
remain about the same. New cabbageS
are selling at from to 10 cents new car
rots are cents bunch and cucumbers
are selling at from to 10 cents EACH Spin
ach, cress, spring onions and radishes are
plentiful and cheap.
Soft Grabs More Plentiful.
Soft crabs are getting more plentiful
the season advances, but not many large
| ones have yet appeared in the local market.
Under ordinary conditions the largest Of
the soft crabs are received during the latter
part Of May, but the continued cold wealth
er this year has made a difference in both
quantity and quality. The receipts this
week have greatly increased and the prices
were as low at times as 40 cents a dozen.
1t is expected there will be a decided i'm
provement in the quality as soon as there
is a change in the weather. Hard crabs
getting in better condition and are more
plentiful. Twenty-Five cents a dozen at re-
tail Is the price charged. Dealers say crab
meat and crab flake are in greater demand
| this year than usual and Is in firSt-claSS
condition. The meat is selling at from 30
| to 40 cents quart and the flake at from
40 to 80 cents.
Marine products from the Potomac river
are not plentiful. very few fish being
| caught. A few white perch have been cap
tured this week, and the meters have also
| sent few shad and herring to local deal
ers. Some fine rock fish are being caught,
| however, and the larger ones are finding
| ready sale at 90 cents pound. Pan rock
| are to be had for 10 cents pound. Many
large sturgeon are being caught in the Po
| tomac and the demand for the fish Is so
| great that dealers find 1t an easy matter
! to get 20 cents pound for it. should there
| be decided increase in the catch during
the next few days, however, 1t is possible
| that there will be a decrease in the price
| Boston mackerel are in season and deal
ers are receiving large shipments of them,
selling them at 40 and 30 cents each. Blue
| fish and sea bass selling at 10 cents
| and butter fish and croakers are 10 cents
| a pound Salt water trout are TO be mad LOT
| 1914 cents pound
Slight Change in Poultry.
| There has been but slight change noted
| in the poultry market since last week
| Broilers are scarce and high, frozen stock
selling at IS cents pound and fresh-killed
spring chickens bringing 80 cents. Roast
ing chickens are selling at 20 cents pound
| and Long Island duckings % cents.
| Turkeys quoted at 20 cents a pound,
| but the demand for them is not great at
| this season of the year.
| The egg market is firm, 20 cents a dozen
| being the retail price. Butter prices are
| about the same they were last week.
| There has been no change in the retail prices
| OF meats during the past week, the prices