New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-24
DEALERS TRICKS
SHOWN AT MARKET
Inspector Learns How Re-
tailers Fool Unwary
Fish Buyers.
SCRAWNY CHICKENS
REGAIN PLUMPNESS
Inflated Birds, Bedecked with
Ribbons, Shams for
Housewives.

Pneumatic chickens and Topping,
though defunct, FISH are are latest ap-
pendages to the high cost Of living
procession. +. b. Appleget, Of the
Open Market Committee, discovered
both yesterday through the courtesy
of dealers in the greensboro Bridge
Market. Housewives are warned against
the beribboned chicken and the fish
whose glazed eye bellies his active
tail. Both are shams.
During his inspection of the market
yesterday Mr.. Appleget, who makes
daily reports Of market conditions to
Borough President Marks, noticed some
poultry which was most emaciated.
Yes" agreed the dealer, "that's a
poor lot. but we're selling them cheap
and don't make any attempt to dis
guise them. Why, what some dealers
would do to those chickens would be
shame. You pick out one now and
mark IL; leave me alone with it for ten
minutes and see II you recognize it
when you return"
Mr.. Appleget selected the scrawniest
OF the lot. Upon returning to the
stand the dealer handed him a fowl Of
a pleasant plumpness, gayly bedecked
with red ribbons. Only his identifca-
ton mark convinced Mr.. Appleget that
it was the same he had seen a few
moments before. Skilful massage at
the hands of the dealer soon reduced
the bird to its original forlorn condt-
ton.
"lt's shame to give it away" said
he, "brt you ought to know the trick.
As soon as you left | crushed the
breastbone with the back of a cleavef.
That makes the chicken appear ten
der, and also renders its carcass pill
able. A ribbon is tied around it's neck
and its interior workings are showed
we'll up into its breast. That makes
it fairly plump, but the final touch is
added with quill by means of which
| inflated the body with air. Another
ribbon tied around its waist, you see,
makes it air-tight. and it holds its
shape under ordinary handling"
the phenomenon of apparently liv-
ing fish coming from dry wagon box
was noticed little further along. On
unloading them the dealer seized one
in each hand, and, despite their strug-
giles, slapped them into a barrel. The
absolute peace that prevailed in the
barrel aroused suspicious, and by close
watching Mr.. Appleget discovered that
Tho dealers little finger was as adept
as that of an expert piano player.
During the trip from wagon to bar
rel the dealers little finger support
ed the tail Of the fish. By wiggling
L. ,ol In nef
lfelike motion was impaired to the
tail of the fish. In fact, the fish had
passed away before even seeing the
wagon. Mr.. Appleget was satisfied of
that, despite the dealers earnest ar
gument that they danced because to-
day would be bargain day in the mar
ket
The Fort Lee Ferry Market ia TO
have two bargain days every week
hereafter. The other markets will
have one bargain day each week.
Borough President Marks, in an adj
dress before the international Pure
Milk and Food League at the Hotel
Aston yesterday, answered some Of the
objections made by the Mayors Food
Supply Committee to the new mar
kets. The markets, he said, were not
an end but merely a step in the de-
velopment of plans which included
trolley and railroad terminals and
more retail markets. AS to the com
paratively small amount of New York ;
food supply raised by nearby farmers.
the new markets encouraged intensive
cultivation, he said, and would in
crease the supply.
The league adopted resolutions in
dorsing the new markets and recon-
mending they be made permanent.