Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/124

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HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT

FISH (continued).

Name of Fish. In Season. Best & Cheapest Average Price.
Soles All the year April to July 1s to 2s per lb.
Sprats Nov. to March Nov. and Dec. 1d. to 3d. per lb.
Trout Feb. to Sept. April to July 8d. to 2s. per lb.
Turbot All the year Spring & Summer 6d. to 1s. 2d. per Ib.
Whitebait Jan. to Sept. Feb. to May 1s. to 2s. per qt
Whiting All the year Spring & Summer 2d to 6d. each.

POULTRY.

The cost of poultry varies considerably, being affected both by the season of the year and the district in which it is purchased. It is well to remember that poultry almost invariably rises in price at Christmas, and also tends to be expensive when no game is on the market. These considerations borne in mind, the table below will give a reliable average of prices.

Poultry. In Season. Best & Cheapest Average Price.
Chickens Feb. to October July to October 2s. to 3s. 6d. each.
Ducklings Feb. to August May to July 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. ea.
Ducks August to Feb. Sept. and Oct. 3s. to 4s. each.
Fowls All the year June to October 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. each.
Geese Sept. to Feb. Oct. and Nov 6s. to 10s. each.
Green Geese. May to August June 6s. to 10s. each.
Guinea Fowl Feb. to August Summer 3s. to 4s. each.
Pigeons August to April Winter 9d to 1s. each.
,, (Bordeaux) All the year Winter 1s. to 1s. 4d.
Rabbits All the year October to Feb. 6d. to 8d. per lb.
,, (Ostend) All the year October to Feb. 7d. and 8d. per lb.
Turkeys Oct. to March Nov. to January 10s to £1 each.
Wheatears Sept. to March Sept. and Oct. 1s. each.

GAME.

Game varies very much in price, being generally very expensive on the first day or two of the season, whilst on the other hand, any one watching the market may sometimes buy it more cheaply than ordinary poultry at any subsequent period of the season.

In this variable climate no hard and fast rule can be laid down for the keeping of Game before it is cooked. In all cases it requires hanging; but while in winter it is safe to buy birds that have been shot some time, in damp or warm weather no such risk should be run.