Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-15
IN THELOCAL MARKETS
DEALERS HAVE DIFFICULTY IN
MEETING DEMAND FOR FISH.
Game Season Almost Over-Fruits and
Vegetables-Priceo Of Butter
and Eggs.

"It would require the expenditure of the
increased salaries of members of Congress
almost to fill a market basket tomorrow"
was the remark of a dealer this morning
THE salary OF the average clerk Will GER
tainly not do it. A roast Of lamb for the
Sunday dinner will take about one day 8
pay. and green peas. mint sauce and other
trimmings will make a big hole In the
salary of another day. A roast OF beef or
veal. spring chicken. turkey or duck
might answer the purpose, but none of
them is cheap
Even fish are higher than usual, local
dealers finding it difficult problem to get
the kind of fish that are in demand by
consumers at this season. Potomac fish
are in great demand, but they are scarce
and high. few shad and herring are
arriving but the prices are so high that
they are not within reach of the average
buyer. Dealers are asking $l;5o for the
best roe shad, the smallest of the buck
shad bringing 80 cents. and herring are
bringing cents each, or 80 cents dozen.
1t is believed that the late snow storms
and the high water have affected the hshing
season on the Potomac. and the prospective
high water from the upper river promises
to do further damage to the hshlng In
dustry.
''rhls time two years ago." dealer
explained, 1--WE had all our herring put
away for the winter, and we also had many
shad In storage, but this season we find
1t a hard matter to get enough OF either
fish to supply the current demand
Caught in the Potomac.
few rock, perch and catfish are be-
ing caught in the Potomac, but the supply
is nothing like great enough to fill the de-
mand Rock are bringing 20 and 25 cents
a pound, and small perch are scarce at
Is cents. Catfish. which usually sell for
a
at this season. Yellow perch are quoted at
121h cents and bass are to be had for ~
cents. Cod. halibut. king mackerel and
other saltwater fish are being depended
upon to supply the trade. few hard
crabs are being received by local dealers,
but it is vet rather early for them, and they
are nothing like in prime condition TWEEN,
ty-five cents pound Is the price charged
for them, the price being about the same
all the time they are to be had. Holsters
are scarce and high.
Live Holsters are 40 cents pound.
was the statement OF dealer IN nm marine
scarce at that price. 1t costs us 81 cents
a pound to bring live Holsters to this mar
ket the wholesale price in Boston being
35 cents and the express charges being
cents"
Cooked Holsters are quoted at 30 cents a
pound. Soft crabs from North carolina
or Spiders" as they are called. Will be IN
the local market next month. They are
hardly large enough for table purposes, but
they make good bait for white perch. Fresh
frogs have made their appearance In the
local market. and are selling az tne raue
at from % to 80 cents each. The scarcity
of fresh fish from the Potomac river has
increased the. demand for crab meat, and
served in many OF the restaurants and
dining rooms Crab meat is selling at II.
a gallon. 40 cents advance of that price
being charged for the flake
Turkeys Still in Demand.
Turkeys are still in demand, although the
season il far advanced. The desire will
not cease until after the Easter holidays.
Turkeys are now selling at from IL cents
to % cents pound It Is STATED ina.
were a week ago. and while they are not
likely to be plentiful again this season. II
is believed the prices VIA remain at about
those quoted this week. Spring chickens
are scarce. and dealers are depending
chiefly upon frozen stock for supplies. The
prevailing price Is % cents pound. Roast
a hound. and fowls are 10 cents. Capons
and ducks are quoted at Y cents pound.
The game season is almost over. Today
closed the season for quail, and two weeks
were selling at 81 q dozen this morning,
but dealers had only a few of them on
hand. They have not been plentiful this
season, and dealers WIN have .,1 none to put
ducks in market. and they are in prime
condition. SQUADS are taking the place of
game, the ordinary squad selling at $3.50 q
dozen, the jumbo squads bringing 81 adj
ditional a dozen.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit and vegetable growers in the south
are still supplying the local market with
produce. Green peas to 30 with the spring
lamb dinner are to be had for % cents a
quarter peck. string beans selling at 30
cents. New Florida beets and cabbage are
attracting attention OF buyers, the former
selling ut the rate Of 10 cents q bunch and
the latter at from 10 to % cents head.
Peppers are Ia demand at from to 10 cents
each, tomatoes at Is to . cents 4 pound.
and cucumbers are to be had at from to
Is cents each. Asparagus h getting moro
plentiful and ID selling at from - to 20
cents = bunch. Lettuce. radishss and
spring onions are plentiful. and the prices
charged for then are deemcd reasonable.
F7osida celery has arrived and IL selling at
from 10 10 cents.