Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-16
Hot Weather Increases Sea
Food Demand-Soft Crabs
More Plentiful.


dition. however, and prevents losses
that otherwise would serve to make
prices still higher.
Municipal Fish Market dealers this
week have been able to furnish re-
tailers with supplies at prices they
term reasonable, while last week the
fish we're scarce and high.
But it's the way with fish," COM
mented a dealer lone day they are
plentiful and the next day they are
scarce. At times there are reasonable
explanations for the different condi'
lions, while at other times 1t is impos-
sible to explain shortages in receipts.
Glut One Day, None Next.
"And, after ALL" the dealer added,
met fishing is about the same as hook.
and.line fishing. One day there is
nothing doing, and the next day there
Is a glut."
Crackers became as plentiful this
week as they were arly in the season,
and dealers were glad to get cents
pound for them, the lowest price that
prevailed this week for any OF the
seafood. Some of them came from the
Buckroe Beach nets, while others
came from the lower Potomac and
points on chesapeake Bay.
scarce since early in the season. their
scarcity at one time sending the price
I'D to around 45 cents. They were
more plentiful the past few days, how
ever, and dealers were able to offer
them as low as q quarter pound.
Dealers have had a few sturgeon
this season to offer the trade at
around SIS and so cents a pound. Many
wears ago, when the fish were plenti.
full and many of them were caught in
District waters, a price of more than
a nickel a pound was deemed exorbi-
tant. Now a price of so cents
pound at retail is considered cheap.
Soft Crabs More Plentiful.
A more plentiful supply Of soft
crabs from points on Chesapeake Bay
and tributaries was welcomed by both
dealers and consumers this week. SUCH
crabs are always in great demand dur
ing the Summer season, but con.
sumers object to paying 81 or 20
dozen for them. Prices the past few
days dropped to $3.50 and $3.50
dozen, according to size. Hard crabs,
more plentiful than early in the sea
son, are selling at 81 a barrel or 81
a dozen.
There were numerous varieties or
fish among this mornings offerings
at prices ranging from to 2S cents
pound. They included rockfish,
trout, bluefish, black sea bass, butter.
fish. tile, founders. salmon, haddock
filet of haddock, cells, catfish and red
snapper.
Conditions in the meat market were
reported this morning as being about
normal for this season OF the year.
An increased demand for pork and
pork products has been experienced
this week. Supplies of fresh pork
have about been cleaned up this week,
and the extra demand and almost
scarcity has brought the price of
fresh-killed stock to % and 80 cents.
4 general draggy condition has
prevailed so far as other fresh meats
were concerned. Dealers experienced
the usual increased hot weather de-
mand for smoked meats, chiefly hams
and shoulders, and hams this morn
ing were quoted at 26 and II cents,
shoulders selling at Is cents.
Poultry Market Draggy.
Dealers reported a draggy and
wavering condition Of poultry market.
Fairly heavy supplies have been re-
ceived this week and a fairly good
demand was registered. Spring
chickens of good size this morning
were offered at 35 and 81 cents,
smaller ones selling at 80 and SO
cents and White Leghorns at rs and
" cents.
Old hens, termed fowls, sold at 26
and q cents, those of the White Leg
horn variety bringing only 20 cents.
BOOSTERS found ready sale at 20 cents.
They are said to be used chiefly for
sandwiches and salads. Ducks and
keats this morning were offered at
prices that have prevailed the past
two weeks, and dealers had some at.
tractive turkeys to offer.
There have been very few changes
reported in the butter and egg market
this week. Much common stock of
current receipts Of eggs proved trou.
blesome to dealers during recent hot
weather, and double candlings have
been reported In an effort to see that
retailers get eggs in good condition.
Retailers are holding off their buy
ing of eggs, according to wholesalers,
many Of them ordering from time to
time during the day in order that
they may not have to carry stock
over night. Eggs bought one day. it
is stated, will not always stand up
under a Gambling when kept over
night.
Butter Prices Steady.
Butter prices have been practically
the same throughout the week. Last
week there was a drop of l cent in
prices, and 1t was thought other de-
creases might follow. They did not
follow, however. and dealers this
morning said they were unable to
venture a prediction as to probable
prices the coming week.
Liberal supplies of peaches from
Georgia and North Carolina this week
have found ready sale, and a similar
condition Is reported respecting ap-
pies received from Maryland, Virginia
and New Jersey.
Corn has been received In liberal
quantities from North Carolina grow
ers and found ready sale at $3.50 and
" a crate. Only moderate receipts
of peas were reported during the
week.
Moderate or light supplies of other
vegetables were reported. These
vegetables include beans, beets, car.
rots, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, pep.
pers. squash, tomatoes, potatoes, lima
beans, lettuce and onions. Small fruits
In market include blackberries,
huckleberries. currants and cherries.
Buyers were out in fairly large
numbers this morning. They find it
necessary to make early starts because
of the Saturday half holiday in the
Government deDartmentS and Gonna