season of scarcity, not by the freshness of the lot itself, but by 

 the percentage of fresh eggs mixed with eggs that have been held. 



Admitting that this is true, through the two coldest monthi, 

 ■of duck eggs as well as hens' eggs, and knowing that the call 

 from the south, where these birds were slower at first in being 

 introduced, continues till rather late in the fall and that inquir- 

 ies begin to flow north, for eggs for hatching, as early as January, 

 we may easily account for the fact that New York market does 

 not as yet see much of the Runner eggs. 



During the first week in May, I spent a good part of another 

 forenoon in the commission houses, in order to study the situation 

 at that time of the year. Every where I went, the story was the 

 same: no duck eggs wanted after the Easter season. Invariably 

 I asked, "Why?" Was it simply habit, because duck eggs had 

 never been available? Was it prejudice, because the old type of 

 duck egg which our ancestors sold were strong in flavor? Most 

 of the dealers shrugged their shoulders indifferently, or said ic 

 was probably prejudice. One man told me it was because they 

 were too heavy and full-bodied, which made them spoil quickly. 

 "But" I said : "all your price-currents on hens' eggs praise as of 

 highest value the firm, full-bodied egg. Why the difference?" 

 The dealer had no answer ready. "They don't stand up as well 

 under heat and holding," seemed to be a general opinion. 



Many told me there were virtually no duck eggs in market 

 so late. Six or eight cases, it might be, an occasional dealer 

 would get. One told me again and again of a single case for 

 which he had gotten full market price as for white Leghorn eggs, 

 emphasizing that it was because they were so fine. Pressed fov 

 the details of this fine quality, he stated that they were fresh and 

 well graded. Thus, he had received about 32 cents, when the 

 most of those in market brought 16 or 17 cents. Finally, as I 

 probed, it all came out with a rush — the secret of the prejudice 

 against duck eggs in New York market "after Easter;" the 



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