Wild birds were an item of trade long before they were a commodity of business. Native peoples, frontier pioneers and then settlers utilized local resources as a source for food, and when possible, traded or sold their take to others in a willing exchange or some sort or another. As settlement spread westward during the mid-1800s, people in prairie schooners could have spent hoarded money to get something suitable to for an evenings' meal. During the years of this period of history, selling a brace of prairie chickens might have meant an infusion of cash money for a family to purchase survival essentials on the edge of civilization. Every resource was important.
Many sort of birds — especially those occuring in gatherings of some greater sort — attracted shootists of all ages proficient with a weapon and that went forth with a focused intent to harvest whatever was suitably available for the taking. On the killing end of arrows or gun-shot were gaggles of geese, flighty ducks, masses of passenger pigeons, flocks of prairie chickens among vast expanses of grass or a covey of quail bursting forth from the edge of a woodland's edge. Until the mid- to latter-1800s, there were no restrictive laws to consider. Acquiring dozens, or hundreds, was a matter of availability, purpose and effort.
The game market was widespread in America, but for Nebraska in particular, details about selling bird carcasses in a business venue are sparse among the years when Nebraska was becoming a state. Records of market prices are little known among the first chronicles of newspapers that could be readily considered.
A distinctive indication did occur in 1866. An excursionary party from eastern states traveled westward to experience scenes along the path of the Union Pacific Railroad, as it moved westward across the central plains. Some of the people left Jersey City in mid-October, with others joining along the route. Members of the party stayed at Omaha on Monday October 22nd, experiencing a grand ball at the Herndon House that evening.
Tuesday the party continued west, and camped near Columbus, where, according to tidbits of details, essential supplies and other requisites had already been delivered by a freight train which had already arrived at the scene.
On Wednesday the excursionists arrived at Platte City, which was a train construction camp at the east end of Brady's Island, about 15 miles east of the forks of the Platte River. On Thursday, the 25th, the tour participants — including representatives from newspapers issued at New York, Waltham, Mass., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Springfield, Ill., Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha — viewed work gangs laying wooden ties and silver rails that provided a railroad track, as well as other local activities.
What is especially significant for this day, is a newspaper issue called the Railway Pioneer printed at the site, using type and a press provided by the Omaha Republican. In addition to some stories of events, it indicated market prices from the East Coast and London, along with prices for game animals at Platte City. A variety of game was readily available, for cash.
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The birds provided meat to eat, after being taken by hunters and delivered to the proprietor of the market catering to a local demand, which certainly included hungry men working on the railway. It was a transaction at some sort of slight structure — perhaps just a flimsy tent by the tracks — on the spreading frontier of the west.
This vivid report expressively conveys a cost for different types of wild birds along the railway line. There had to have been other similar places, but whose activities are unknown because they were not remembered in a lasting manner.
The market for wild game increased exponentially throughout the states in subsequent years, as rewarding avenues of business spread. Game was a well-known commodity, and its status was indicated by various publications, perhaps more focused upon cattle, sheep and linen. Game was a prominent facet of the trade, well known at large eastern cities such as New York, Baltimore, and Chicago. To a lesser degree, it was a matter of commerce at Minneapolis, Minn., and Omaha, a regional hub of commerce at the Missouri River.
Omaha Market Prices
Wild birds designated within a listing as game, was a commodity regularly sold amongst the lively market district in east Omaha. Shootists spread about the region shipped their take to the river city, providing carcasses for a price including an essential profit.
A first listing for game birds at the Omaha Market was March 1875, when prairie chickens brought $1.75 per dozen, and quail at $1.00. In April 1877, mixed geese were 1.50, with geese and brant at $3.00 per dozen. The market was said to be "dull and lower" with these price quotes continuing the same through the month.
During the 1880s, the cost for a dozen birds of various sorts was regularly reported upon numerous pages and different issues of the Omaha Daily Bee.
The game birds arrived in some sort of container, probably labeled as poultry, while being shipped according to something of a protocol. In January 1885, the market report indicated: "In shipping birds (excepting geese and ducks) pack them in tight packages, boxes or barrels, and ship as 'poultry'."
During this decade, there was a market for birds from late August, through autumn and winter, and into late spring, as indicated by the market report listings. It seems that birds were sold nearly year-round, as they were indicated in the price quotes in every other month, except June and July.
Details that convey the wholesale price, were reported by the Omaha Bee market report. The valuation was the price charged by "jobbers, wholesalers and commission merchants." Though a price quote may have been provided, it did not necessarily indicate the actual availability of that particular commodity, but represented what would be paid. Details given here are from the regular, nearly daily, market report in the Omaha Daily Bee for 110 different days, which provided more than 500 price quotes between September 1, 1881 and December 25, 1889.
The values indicate a lower price, since a price range was typically reported, and which was usually 25 to 50 cents greater.
Bird Species at the Market
Considering the regular notations for game birds, the following evaluation was possible by comparing the broad-range of records in the newspaper. Most often, a listing referred to the species and their price to buy, while occasionally further details were provided, adding some newsy bits of special interest.
Geese, most likely the Canada Goose; the quoted price varied from $1 per dozen in November 1881 to $4.50 in March and April 1884. In October 1881, the cost was $3.50 per dozen on the 11th, but declined to a minimal value of $2.75 on the 21st and 29th. On November 10th, the price quote was $1, but then increased to $2.75 within ten days.
Snow Goose, listed as brant, and which might have included other species; the cost per dozen was $2.25 in November and December 1885, with a $2 valuation for January to mid-May in 1887.
Duck; varied from a low of 70 cents to $2 per dozen, as sold from September through mid-May. This tally would represent several different species other than teal, and the obviously recognized mallard. There could have been gadwall, wigeon and scaup represented.
Mallard; many reports indicate the price to buy a dozen mallards. Late in 1883, the prices was $2 per dozen, but by later spring in 1884, the quoted minimum price was $2.50. From late winter of 1888 and into early 1889, the price quote for a dozen of these ducks was $3.25. In early December 1884, the market value was $1 per dozen.
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This wild duck was apparently available at the market, surprisingly late during the spring, according to the records indicated by the newspaper.
Teal: the cost for a dozen varied between $1 and $2.50. Typically the price was $1.25 to $1.75. The greatest cost per dozen of $2.50 was in mid-March 1887.
Redhead: available for $2.25 in the spring of 1884, and then $2.50 per dozen during January to April, 1889.
Canvasback: price details are known only from January and February 1889, at $4 to 4.50 per dozen for this epicurean delight.
Greater Prairie Chicken: a common market item with prices that varied from $1.75 to $4.50 per dozen. The lesser price was in early September, soon after the legal season for taking opened. The greater price was during late November and December. During 1881 and 1883, the cost never exceeded $3 per dozen, with a $4 price quote first indicated in March 1884. In December 1884, was the first occurrence of a $4.50 valuation. There is no apparent general trend towards an increasing price during the decade.
The following examples convey the actual details as given for prairie chickens on the market page of the Bee, during the decade:
- 09/01/1881: $2.50 @ 3.00 per dozen
- 09/06/1881: $3.00 @ 3.50 per dozen
- 10/05/1881: $2.25 @ 3.00 per dozen
- 10/09/1881: $3 per dozen
- 10/11/1881: $2.50 @ 3.00 per dozen
- 11/10/1881: $2.50 @ 3.00 per dozen
- 11/19/1881: $2.75 @ 3.00 per dozen; in light supply
- 12/15/1881: $3.00 @ 3.50 per dozen
- 09/19/1883: $1.75 @ 2.00 per doz.
- 10/03/1883: $1.75 @ 2.00
- 10/17/1883: per doz., $2.00 @ 2.50; very little demand
- 11/07/1883: per doz., $2.50 @ 3.00
- 11/21/1883: per doz., $3.50 to 3.75
- 12/05/1883: per doz., $3.00 to 3.25
- 12/31/1883: per doz., $3.00 to 3.25
- 01/09/1884: per doz., $3.00 to 3.25
- 02/13/1884: per doz., $3.00 to 3.25
- 02/27/1884: per doz., $3.00 to 3.25
- 03/19/1884: $4.00
- 04/02/1884: $4.00
- 09/02/1884: now in season but after the first few days demand has let up considerable and they are now slow sale at $2.00 @ 2.50 per dozen
- 09/24/1884: slow at $2.00 @ 2.50
- 10/23/1884: per doz., $2.50
- 11/05/1884: per doz., $2.00 @ 2.75
- 11/19/1884: per doz., $2.00 @ 3.00
- 12/03/1884: prairie chickens in strong request and we can guarantee $3.50 per dozen for all choice undrawn birds
- 12/17/1884: per doz., $3.75
- 12/31/1884: per doz., $4.50
- 01/07/1885: per doz., $4.00; have been very plentiful lately, and as demand did not keep up, prices have declined some, but may keep up if weather keeps cold
- 01/28/1885: per dozen, $4.00
- 02/11/1885: per doz., $4.00; game law of this state prohibits the killing of prairie chickens or grouse after February 1
- 03/04/1885: per doz., $3.50
- 09/02/1885: receipts not very liberal; stock arrived mostly in fair condition; bulk of sales made at $2.50; all birds should be drawn and packed in ice
- 09/16/1885: arriving in excess of demand, quotable at $1.75 @ 2.25
- 09/30/1885: quotable $1.75 @ 2.25
- 10/14/1885: in strong request and will now bring better prices; $2.50 @ $2.75 per dozen
- 10/28/1885: per doz., $2.75 @ 3.00
- 11/18/1885: per doz., $3.00
- 12/02/1885: $2.75 @ $3.00
- 12/16/1885: prairie chickens are especially in good demand at $3.25 per doz., and a few sales were made in a retail way as high as $3.50
- 01/06/1886: $2.50 @ 2.75
- 01/20/1886: $2.75 @ 3.00
- 02/10/1886: per doz., $2.50 @ 2.75; prairie chickens were out of season on January 1, so very few are coming in
- 03/24/1886: per doz., $2.50
- 04/07/1886: per doz., $2.00 @ 2.50
- 09/08/1886: receipts heavy and a great many packages in very bad condition, owing to hot weather; sale are dragging, $2.00 being about outside price for choice sound birds
- 09/22/1886: $2.25 @ 2.50 per dozen; as soon as cold weather sets in there will be a brisk demand for prairie chicken at good paying prices
- 10/13/1886: per doz., $3.00; prairie chickens and grouse, when in good order, sell readily at quotations
- 10/27/1886: choice, per doz., $2.50 @ 2.75 was very outside obtainable
- 11/24/1886: choice, per doz., $3.50 @ 3.75
- 12/08/1886: per doz., $3.50 @ 4.00
- 12/22/1886: choice, per doz., $4.00
- 01/05/1887: choice, per doz., $3.75
- 01/19/1887: per doz., $3.00; prairie chickens are out of season
- 09/02/1887: $2.50 @ 3.00; receipts are liberal for so early in the season
- 09/21/1887: $2.50
- 10/19/1887: $3.00 @ 3.25
- 11/02/1887: $4.25 @ 4.50
- 11/23/1887: $3.50 @ 4.00
- 12/07/1887: $4.00
- 11/14/1888: $3.50 per doz.
- 12/05/1888: $3.75 @ 4.00
- 01/02/1889: per doz., $4.00 @ 4.50
- 09/11/1889: $2.00 @ 3.00; weather too hot for game and but little doing
- 09/18/1889: $2.00 @ 3.00
- 10/30/1889: $3.00 @ 3.50
- 11/13/1889: per doz., $3.00 @ 3.50
- 11/27/1889: $4.50
- 12/25/1889: $4.00
- 09/06/1881: $3.00 @ 3.50 per dozen
In February 1887, the market report included this admonishment: "Prairie chickens, quail and venison are out of season and it is contrary to the law for dealers to handle them. The law has never been very strictly enforced, and a good many dealers handle them after they are out of season."
Sharp-tailed Grouse: a dozen for $3, based upon a single known record from January 1887.
Northern Bobwhite (quail): usually available for $1 to $2.50 per dozen. From late-January to early March 1885, the low price was 50 to 75 cents. An exceptional price was $3 in mid-November 1888, and the only known instance of a $3 valuation.
Snipe, including the "jack snipe" which likely includes a variety of species, probably including various species of shorebirds as well as the Wilson's Snipe: the price varied from 50 cents to $1.50. An exceptional price was $3 at the end of April, 1884. Another significant price of $1.75 per dozen was reported in December 1887.
Plover: varied from 50 cents to $1.25 per dozen. Initially reported in April 1886 and through the end of 1889. There are no clues available for determining the particular species. Perhaps they included the Upland Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, golden plover, black-bellied plover and maybe even the Eskimo Curlew.
The local market was just one indication of the money paid for game birds. There was a national market, and a summary for a wide-variety of commodities including game, allows a comparison of Omaha prices to a summary indicated for other places. Though details are available yearly during the period, only a sample of dates are given in the following table.
| Oct 1882 | Nov 1885 | Nov 1888 | ||
| National * | National | Omaha | National | Omaha |
Prairie chickens | $4 @ 4.50 ** | $4 @ 4.25 | $3.00 | $4.00 @ 4.50 | $3.50 |
Quail | - - | $1.25 @ 1.50 | $1.00 @ 1.25 | - - | $3.00 |
Partridge (ruffed grouse) | - - | $3.00 @ 3.25 | - - | $2.25 | - - |
Snipe (including jack snipe) | $1 @ 1.50 | $1.25 @ 1.40 | $1.00 @ 1.25 | $1 and common at 50c | - - |
Plover (golden and grass) | - - | 75c @ 1.25 | - - | - - | - - |
Geese | - - | - - | $2.75 @ 3.00; brant $2.25 @ 2.50 | - - | - - |
Mallard ducks | $2.50 | $1.75 @ 2.00 | $2.25 @ 2.50 | $3.00 @ 3.25 | $2.50 @ 2.75 |
Wood ducks | $2.00 | - - | - - | - - | - - |
Teal | $1.25 | $1.50 @ 1.75 | $1.25 @ 1.50 | $1.75 @ 2.00 | $1.00 @ 1.25 |
Pintail | - - | - - | - - | $1.50 @ 1.75 | - - |
Redhead | - - | - - | - - | $3.00 | - - |
Passenger pigeon | - - | $1.00 @ 1.25 | - - | - - | - - |
* National price quote summary as issued at Milwaukee. | |||||
The national market report notably indicated the occurrence of a larger variety of species, especially denoting the Passenger Pigeon. There was a wide-spread network of commerce and obvious differences prevailed. It's readily apparent prairie chickens and teal at the Omaha market had a lesser price than elsewhere.
Perspectives
Hunting for the local, state and regional markets was an ongoing, successful endeavor, wherever game could be taken by shootists. Some people were concerned, and in particular, a report by Samuel G.V. "Sandy" Griswold, provides a perspective from the autumn of 1889. He was a prolific writer for the Omaha Bee, covering sports and other events, having arrived at the river city in the latter 1880s.
"Last fall I indulged in a three weeks' outing in the northwestern part of the State, and at no less than five different points on the B. & M. road did I visit the rendezvous of Eastern market-hunters, who have built permanent shipping establishments, with refrigerative annexes and shipping departments, and carry on their unlawful business regularly all the year round openly and defiantly. These shippers not only employ all the farmers' boys they can roundabout the country, but they bring in expert shots from the East, whom they pay a regular salary for their work in the field. Now is not this a sad commentary upon the laws of a great and progressive State like Nebraska; isn't it an unqualified disgrace and an outrage, and does it not call for a loud protest from every true sportsman in the State, and a vigorous remonstrance from all our lovers of nature? I think so."
The July, 1890, Griswold article started with this perspective:
"The various gun clubs of this city have concluded to call a special joint meeting to ascertain whether it is not possible to devise some ways and means of preventing the wholesale illegal killing of prairie chickens this season, and it is high time this very work was accomplished. The time will shortly arrive when the pot and market hunters will shoulder their blunderbusses and sally forth to the slaughter, and there is no time to be lost if anything is to be done toward the protection of this season's crop of birds."
There was concern, but game continued to be taken in quantities, however, and sold for a profit at the city markets. An article in an Omaha newspaper in December 1890 reported:
"The produce markets are beginning to herald the near approach of Christmas by their appetizing displays of edibles." ... "Hanging about the rooms quail, ducks and the prairie chicken promise a good dinner to the sportsmen who prefer the flavor of game. Rabbits and squirrel are plentiful, and antelope, deer and bear carcasses can be had at reasonable figures to help out the courses at dinner.
"The gobble of the live turkey and the clucking of the chickens are heard on all sides. Turkeys, ducks and geese are plentiful and prices are not high. A good fat turkey can be had for 90 cents to $1."
Game prices were at the time: prairie chickens: $3.75 - 4.00 a dozen; quail: $1.25 - 1.50 a dozen; mallard: $2.50 - 3.00 a dozen; teal $1.25 a dozen; and, mixed ducks $1.50 a dozen.
 Meyer and Raapke Fancy Grocers, Omaha. |
Game Sellers
Numerous retail establishments bought game from the wholesale market for resale to individual customers. There were several Omaha businesses known to sell game, especially near the end of this period and into the early 1890s, according to a book of pen sketches for the river city area. They included:
- ¶ Denton and Vogt, operated by L.W. Denton and Otto Vogt; established in 1882 by A.R. Kohr and Co.; store at 13th and Chicago Streets is "provided with all accessories in the way of cold storage."; deal in game in season.
- ¶ Grand Central Market, at 2204 and 2206 Farnam Street, telephone 1011. Opened in 1889 by Messrs. R.E. and J.U. Welch; the grocery and meat market "is elegantly fitted up with ash fixtures, marble top counters, cashier's desk, electric lights, etc., and is by far the most attractive establishment of its kind in the city."
- ¶ Paul Henni, at 730 Twenty-fourth Street in South Omaha, where they relocated to in 1891; established in 1886; "neatness and cleanliness are characteristics of the market" ... which features windows "tastefully dressed and attractive."
- ¶ Icken and Wohlers, operated by Messrs. G.W. Icken and Ed. J.H. Wohlers; located at 1205 Howard St. in 1892
- ¶ People's Cash Market, operated by Geo. W. Kurz; at 1714 Nicholas Street; ... "Mr Kurz places before his customers the very finest and choicest fresh beef" ... and ... "game when in season."
- ¶ Samuel Dreifuss purchased the business of Harris and Fisher in 1888, located at 1817 Dodge Street, but moved to 2010 Farnam Street in 1891; "makes a specialty of poultry and game, keeping all kinds in season."
- ¶ Grand Central Market, at 2204 and 2206 Farnam Street, telephone 1011. Opened in 1889 by Messrs. R.E. and J.U. Welch; the grocery and meat market "is elegantly fitted up with ash fixtures, marble top counters, cashier's desk, electric lights, etc., and is by far the most attractive establishment of its kind in the city."
These examples convey the extent to which local patrons could readily purchase wild game in the 1880s, including many different birds, when they were available during a season.
The taking of game for markets would continue to be prominent and well-known during the 1890s.