Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-03
'FOODSTUFFS CHEAP
IN CENTER MARKET
Dealers Surprised at Alb
sence of Blackstone Island
Oysters as Season Opens.

| Failure of oystermen from the
lower Potomac to appear at Munich
pal Fish Market with small Tags" OF
oysters Thursday morning, opening
day of the 1927 oyster season, came
as a surprise to dealers. Year after
year oystermen from the vicinity OF
| Blackstone Island were on hand the
| first day of the season with small
quantities of the first catch of the
season.
There was only light demand fol
bivalves reported Thursday and yes
terday. it is stated, and there were
oysters enough on hand from Hamp-
ton. Va. to meet It, Dealers reported
the first arrivals to have been only
| in fair condition. They were shipped
here in barrels and offered to the
trade at Sc barrel.
1t is predicted by dealers that the
current sea son will be a good one
Last years season was the best In
a number of years. it Is stated, an6
this season promises to surpass that
Soft crabs. very plentiful last
week. are becoming scarce. The sea
son for them will close about the
time of the appearance of the first
frost, crabbers say. 1t is hardly
probably that they will be very
plentiful again this season. A price
of 81 and so was quoted this morn
ing.
Hard Grabs Plentiful.
Hard crabs became more plentiful
the past few days. and cheaper prices
ruled. Dealers had plenty large
crabs to offer at SIS a barrel, the
cheapest price in recent years, and
consumers increased their demands
Crabmeat also continued plentiful
this week. dealers offering it at the
low price of 40 and SO cents a
pound.
Fishermen, not having recovered
from the effects of the terrific gale
along the coast last week, were un
able to send in large shipments this
week, and higher prices prevailed
large shipments of jumping mullets
from North Carolina waters and
offered them at Is cents pound
1.-The jumping mullet," commented
dealer, lis one of the best fish that
can be obtained. It's meat is white
and solid and contains much iodine
that Is conducive to good health"
Solomons Island meters are catch
ing some fine bluefish as we'll as
other attractive species of marine
products. The bluefish were in de
mand yesterday at 25 cents, a price
quoted for founders from Chesapeake
Bay points, the latter fish having
suddenly become scarce.
Smaller receipts of croakers, trout
and butterfish also resulted in higher
prices for the, three varieties. dealers
quoting them for the week end trade
at 12Is cents. Norfolk spots were
quoted at IL cents.
Only a few Spanish mackerel ar
rived in the local market the past
few days, and dealers quoted a price
of 80 cents for them. Boston mack
erel, also not plentiful, brought 20
cents.
Halibut in Good Supply.
There was no scarcity of chicken
halibut at % cents. the larger fish
selling at 81. Fresh cod was plentiful
at % cents. while haddock, the cheap
est fish offered during the week end
brought cents.
An exceptionally cheap vegetable
market was reported this morning,
prices Of some of the vegetables being
so low that dealers fail to realize
how growers are making ends meet
Tomatoes are so plentiful and cheap
that dealers are urging housewives
to make an early start with catsup
an' numerous relishes requiring the
use Of the popular vegetable. Half
bushel baskets of the choicest toma.
toes have sold for quarter the past
few days.
Peppers, another vegetable largely
used in the preparation Of relishes,
have been so plentiful this week that
dealers and growers were glad to sell
supplies at any price. String beans
also came in the class of exceptionally
cheap vegetables, dealers offering
bushel baskets at so and rs cents.
Bushel baskets of cabbage have
been offered at 40 and so cents most
of the week, whole barrels of the veg
etable selling as low as Is cents and
81, scarcely enough to pay for the
work of raising them, according to
growers. Kale also has been plentiful
| and cheap during the week. selling as
low as so cents a barrel.
Corn and lima beans have been
about the best paying crops of vege-
tables this week. Both vegetables are
always in good demand. This morn.
ing dealers were asking 35 and 40
cents dozen for corn, while lima
beans were quoted at $3.50 and SO a
bushel in pods or 80 and IS cents a
quart shelled.
Nearby Potatoes Preferred.
Retailers and consumers prefer po-
tatoes from nearby farms rather than
those from distant points and willing
ly pay slightly advanced prices for