The Washington herald., 1911-03-06
LENTEN SEA FOOD
SOARING In PRICES
Epicures Carry Fat Purses
to Local Markets.
POTOMAC ROE sHAD COSTLY
Although Popular Fish at This
Season of the Year Rules High,
nbIe-Terrapins and Lobsters Are
Fayorites of Most Functions.

Epicures who are looking for the most
are doomed to carry their purses well
filed TO market with them, for of all
times of the year, this has been one of
the times when prices have scared sky
high. Gastronomic hankerings for the
Potomac shad and various sea foods
have been aroused.
But as long as the cold wave in the
South continues, prices will still rise,
and although the Lucullan dainties are
plentiful in the markets, the present
price is such as to intimidate many
would-be purchasers
Depends on Weather.
Provided the sun comes out enough
during the next few days to warm things
up, market men declare the prices will
instantly go down, and a single day
may mean a great difference in the
price Of sea foods.
Those who know the Washington mar
kets and have tried the far-famed
Potomac shad and chesapeake Bay
fish, are prone to believe local prices
are not in excess OF other cities. In
fact. practically the same prices prevail
in the Washington market as in Ralti-
more. while in some cases the prices
are lower.
The Potomac roe shad, which is con-
sidered unexcelled by epicures who have
tried the different shads OF the country,
are now selling at $50 to S1B, which
is pretty high for this season. while
shad roe comes at about 50 cents
There is a variety this season from
which the housekeeper can choose. and
the cautious, economical buyer can please
any epicure on a reasonable sum, if she
goes to the right places. There are
oysters by the boatload and at a very
reasonable price, ranging from IS to 50
cents bushel, put the other shellfish are
not so plentiful, as crab meat sold frozen,
brings from 50 cents to 81 a gallon,
>and there is not much of it at that price
Difference in Terrapin.
There is a considerable difference be-
tween the Baltimore and the Washington
terrapin. Despite the fact that fame has
increased his price, the terrapin is still
the favorite of the most elabc-ste func-
tions. In Washington they are\seIIing
at s., $3.50, 81 and some at S. which
Is CONSIDERABLY lower Indn IN balIlmOre,
where the prices range from & to S..
Just to show the variety from which
the housekeeper can choose, the follow
ing list gives the average -priceS which
will prevail to-day:
Melt shad, so to so cents; salmon, 9
cents; hallibut, % cents: haddock, y
cents; catfish, 20 to 50 cents; black bass,
% cents. which is very high; broiling rock
bass, Q cents, high at this season:
mackerel, . cents; founders, to 10
cents; herring. $3.50 a hundred, a con-
siderable advance in price: jacks, to .
cents; scaTlops, about . cents a pound.
The common yellow perch, which is
usually so cheap, is now at the highest
price that Washington has known for
many seasons, s1-50 to S1.60 for a box
containing about twelve pounds, while
white perch is selling at 20 to 2 cents
d pound.
On account Of its popularity, the lobster
has advanced in price until he now sells
for from about 40 to 80 cents a pound.
There are few CLAIMS in the markets.