The sun., 1912-08-07
SULKy BLUEF|SH DASH
HOPES FOR CHEAP FOOD
They're Behaving Better, hut
Still Sea Food Offers Small
/ Chance for Economy.
BASS AND pORGIES CHEAP
Denizcns Of the Deep All Dere-
lict in Their Duty to q
Scanty Table.

At time when housewives are
turning To flsh az a substitute for high
priced meats. thus increasing tho de-
mand for sea foods. many kinds of fish
are sulking in the deep and refusing to
bite, thus decreasing the supply.
All along the Jersey coast fishermen
complain that the bluefish, always u
queer minded fellow. has been particu-
larry provoking this season. Fisher
men have spotted big schools Of blues
from time to time. but the sea has been
full Of small fish and the blues have
been satisfied to stick to home fare to
the great disappointment of men whose
living depends on Turing them out.
Down at Fulton Fish Market II was
said yesterday afternoon that there had
been two or three big runs OF blues
and that fish have been coming to the
market In fairly generous shipments
the past two days.
Fresh mackercl are scarce and
Prince Edard and Block Island fish,
ermcn report a very poor season. As
a rule mackc,cl arrive around Dccora-
ton DAY. but thus far. except for oc-
oaslonal lucky catches. there have been
none TO speak of down East.
Weaktsh should have been here in
great quantities six weeks ago. but this
popular fish has fought shy Of waters
hercabout and the fishermen are be-
ginning To have their own private opin-
ions about II.
Salmon trout are also scarce MP
around the great lakes, and the dainty
pompano. which comes from southern
waters, is getting to he so rare in the
markets that IT il now quoted from 40
10 90 cents n pound. which is trifie
higher than beef
There are lots of seabass, however, i'm
the lower lay and down the Jersey coast.
but they are apt to take it into their heads
almost any time to quit biting. fisher
men say. for that il way they have
Smelts are now coming in ard soft shell
crabs are getting plentiful. The season
Tor scallops opens on September | and
indications are that there will he lots Of
them In the scallop zone of Long Island,
Rhode Island and points down east.
1t was said at Blackford's. Chesebro
Bros. and other places in Fulton
Market yesterday afternoon that the
prices of fish are governed altogether by
supply and demand. and while the price
OF one variety may advance one day
a
average about the same as year ago.
It's all matter of ups and downs
said one wholesaler. -and depends alto
gether on conditions. Fish are coming
in more, or less. principally less. these
days. What the fishermen need to inn
prove their business Is big storm that
will stir up the sea and start the fish Bit
ing
In Washington Market and elsewhere
the following retail quotations of fish were
made: Seabass. II and 10 cents nackerel
20 cents porgies. II cents: halibut. -
cents; kennebec salmon, 81 cents.
Bluetish were quoted at IS cents q
pound. Last week they were ~ cents
and two weeks ago 10 cents. This weeks
reduction in price is due to the fact that
haus of blues have been made in the past
few days.
Soft shell crabs are now bringing rs
cents and 81 IA dozen.
flsh dealers are much amused over a
new State law which makes it possible
for them TO handle artficlally propagated
trout the year round. This law was
PASSED TOR the purpose of encouraging
the raising OF trout in hatcheries and
provides that they can be cent TO
market and exposed for sale AZ long
AS each and every fish under six inches in
length shall have metal tag run through
its tail bearing the initials of the New
York State Conservation Commission.
The tags cost three cents each and can
only be used once. 1t is necessary to
keep each tag just where il is from the
time that the trout is cooked until it is
served on the breakfast table. Lovers
of trout are warned not TO swallow the
tag.
Beef still remains scarce but prices are
about the same. Washington Mark ct
retail quotations yesterday were: Srloin
steak, - cents pound; porterhouse
steak ~ cents; round steak. ~ cents;
rib roasts. first cuts. 70 cents; other cuts,
ls to 81 cents.
Veal cutl lets are 81 cents pound. veal
chops, "a cents; leg of veal 20 and shoul-
der, ~. The wholesale price of calves
has advanced three cents pound in three
Legs Of spring lamb are 20 cents pound
and hind quarters 20 cents. Legs OF NUT
ton are bringing Ii cents pound and
mutton chops ~ cents.
The wholesale price Of chickens has
increased from Is TO II cents in the la st
TWO weeks and retail prices are now
quoted as follows; Roasting chickens
large. - cents a pound; small, IS cents;
fresh killed fowl, 20 cents.
Fresh eggs took jump yesterday from
2s TO 80 cents retail, as a result, il is said,
OF the fashion among self-respecting
hens to change their plumage at this
season of the year
Everybody in Washington Market saws |
that nobody Is making any money these /,
days. They say profits are small because
prices hay o TO be kept at a point where
people will huy.
Nobody need got an idea that the
election OF President or action 10y Con
Grcss is going 70 reduce the price Of beef"
said one butcher. 40 produce good
beef you've got to feed the catt le on
corn. Corn and feed ara high and il yon
put high priced corn into beef the cat tie
raiser has got to get his money out of il
hats all there is TO it. There will be no
relief until the price Of corn comes down
Many restaurants have followed the
example Of the Childs Company and have
ad, anced the bill Of fare price of meats
from five to ten cents. Fish prices remain
lhe same, although in some restaurants,
!, ia said. they have noticeably decreased
IN size.
Unless the fish quit sulking and recog-
nize their duty to mankind and bite.
there's no telling where the price Of fish
cakes will go.