Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-25
EGGS ARE F|RMER
IN MARKET TODAY
Cheaper Poultry Prices After
Fourth Holiday Foreseen
by Local Dealers.

More than ordinary interest Is be-
ing shown by local dealers in the con-
dition Of the poultry market. and the
heavy receipts this season suggests
the probability of immense increases
in the number of farmers who have
embarked in the embarrassing busi-
ness in recent years. The immense |
increases in receipts is taken by deal |
ers as a refutation of the statement |
so often heard as to most of the corn |
raised by farmers being converted |
into moonshine product.
Receipts of eggs also have been un-.
usually heavy this season, bearing out
the statement of a dealer some time
ago respecting the increased number
of Maryland and Virginia farmers
who have increased their hennery
plants and discarded much of the
heavier work on their farms.
1t was pointed out by dealers this
morning that the egg season opened
much earlier this year than usual and
prices kept low for a much longer
period. Ordinarily, it is stated, the
height of the egg season should be
approaching. 1t is past, however, &C.
cording to dealers, and prices are
Packers About Through.
Packers have about finished storing
eggs for the trade next Winter, the
quantities stored being far in excess
of the number put in storage last
year. This morning the egg market
was reported firmer, current receipts
bringing as much as % and "a, with
losses off. Candled stock sold as high
as rs and &c cents, while hennery
eggs were quoted at q and % cents.
Local dealers are receiving supplies
of poultry sufficient to supply de-
mands of the trade, and at times a
small surplus is in evidence. Poultry
raisers are reported holding back their
best chickens, many of them being
Plymouth Rocks of 4 pounds or more,
for the Fourth of July holiday trade,
the deficiency being met with cold
storage stock.
1t is reported in the local market
that packers are making every effort
to get rid of supplies of poultry on
hand, even at a loss in some instances,
but such stock was put away in first
class condition, and local dealers say
there is no discounting the quality of
it. Following the approaching Fourth
of July holiday season, it is stated, al
most anything in the poultry market
may be expected.
Cheaper Prices FOreseen.
Dealers say there is every indica.
ton that cheaper prices will rule after
the close of the holiday season. Local
dealers yesterday received word from
New York that there were 10 cars
OF live poultry on the railroad tracks
there and consigneeS were anxious to
unload. Most of that poultry is be.
lieved to have been shipped from Ten
ne.see and the West.
None of the New York surplus
probably will reach this city, accord.
ing to statements of merchants today,
explaining that the chickens probably
would not be in the best condition by
the time they arrived here. 1t was
suggested that Philadelphia, a much
shorter haul. probably would get part
of the New York surplus stock.
Small Spring chickens were offered
as low as 80 and IS cents this morn
ing, while Leghorns were offered at
% and % cents. Choice Plymouth
Rocks were quoted at IS and 81 cents,
and fowls at the low figure of 81 and %
cents.
Municipal Fish Market receipts
this week dropped off to a considerable
extent. due, dealers reported, to high
water and continued northeast winds.
Prices of several of the more popular
varieties of fish advanced something
like 100 per cent. but there were other
varieties offered at almost normal
prices.
ROckfish Were Scarce.
Rockfish and trout were particularly
scarce and high, and there were but
few perch shipped here from down.
river and Chesapeake Bay points.
Rockfish have not been very plentiful
since early in the season, according
to reports, and perch have been moth.
ing like as plentiful as in past years.
Soft crabs were almost off the
market part of the week. Prices
were quoted, but dealers were unable
to fill orders. Hard crabs became
more plentiful and cheaper, due. it is
stated, to increased numbers Of crab
bers on the Chesapeake Bay and
tributaries. crabbers having finished
their early season work in berry patch
es and vegetable gardens. The price
dropped to IS barrel, prices of $12
and SIS having prevailed a week ago.
Florida and Georgia watermelons
are being received in carload lots.
The market is slightly stronger for
large stock, such melons not being
plentiful, while the market is firm on
smaller melons. some of the smaller
stock selling as low as 25 cents.
Liberal supplies of cantaloupes were
on hand this morning, the market be-
ing slightly weaker and the demand
good. Most of the supplies came from
the Imperial Valley of California, re-
ceived in refrigerator cars, and found
ready sale at prevailing prices.
Georgia, North and South Carolina
and Virginia growers are furnishing
supplies of peaches to local dealers.
Prices this morning ranged from 81 so
for choicest stock to 81 for inferior
and partly decayed fruit.
Only light supplies of strawberries
are being received. the season for the
popular berries being practically over.
Light supplies of raspberries from
nearby growers and moderate supplies
Of blackberries were reported. Home.
grown cherries are supplying the mar.
ket. Only light supplies are being
received, dealers report, and there is
said there is little likelihood that they
will become plentiful.
New homegrown potatoes have an.
peared in the local market and new
tomatoes are expected from nearby
truck gardens early next month.
The potatoes are of good size and
quality. many Of them proving more
attractive than the crop from the
South.
Tomato Supply Liberal.
Liberal supplies of tomatoes, mostly
from Mississippi, met a fair demand
and weakened market. Nearby grow
ers are supplying numerous other
vegetables to market dealers and
prices have cheapened considerably
the past few days.
Among the vegetables found in the
local market this morning were as.
paragus. string and stringless beans,
beets, cabbage, cucumbers, elephants.