1(54 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



marketed in San Francisco, and part of this may find its way East by tank cars. Some of this has already been sold, 

 but it is impossible to tell how much. On its way to the East its arrival at different points on the route has been 

 telegraphed here, and such inforinatiou has usually been taken as indicating a new s;ile. 



The following reviews for 1881, 18S2, 1883, and 1884 are by Messrs. I. H. Bartlett & Sous, of 

 New Bedford: 



TRADE REVIEW FOR 1881. 



Review of the whale fishery for 1881. The year has been generally free of disasters, only four vessels having been 

 lost. Otherwise their has been no special feature of note. Arctic whaling has yielded good returns, while sperm oil 

 has not been found abundant. The most of the voyages closed during the year were successful, and the outlook for 

 the future would be good if better prices could be obtained, and tbe business relieved of the many clogs and hin- 

 drances which have lor many years oppressed United States shipping, and which have been so ably set forth in the 

 recent report of the cominil lee appointed by the New York Chamber of Commerce. Promiueut features in that, 

 report, were, the payment of time mouths' wages to discharged seamen, now exacted by no other nation, and the 

 protection granted to deserters by consular authorities and foreign Governments. 



The piesent whaling Heel, numbers one hundred and sixty-one vessels, against one hundred and seventy-seven a 

 year ago. a icduelion of sixteen. 



Sperm whaling continues to droop, and vessels have generally had but moderate MICCT.SS, those on the African 

 coast, and on Chili having made the largest catches, while in other quarters (lie year's work has been small. 



li'iglit whaling has beeu successfully prosecuted. The Arctic ileet took good tares of oil and bone, as our tables 

 will show, remunerating those who invested their capital and labor in that, direction, but we sadly record the 

 evii lei ice indicating there is no hope of finding alive the crews of the two whalers that were ice-bound two years since. 

 We however welcome the news of the safety of a part or all of the Jeauuctte's company, and further tidings of them 

 is now daily expected. 



The price of sperm oil in January last was nominally 98 cents per gallou, but owing to the immense stock on hand 

 sales could not have been effected to any extent at over 8.") to OH cents. The price declined to rtl cents in May and 

 June, rose to 82| cents in July, and gradually advanced till it reached '.).", cents in October, at which price it closed 

 the year, with some sales in the latter part at a slight advance on that figure. The incubus of stock that has for so 

 long a time weighed like a wet blanket on our sperm-whaling interests has now been removed, and no mariner 

 returning from a four years' voyage ever hailed with more satisfaction the sight of his home port, than do our mer- 

 chants the contemplation of the fact that, the stock of sperm oil for the whole of the present, year will be less in 

 quantity than the consumption of the last. 



Whale oil opened the year at 48 cents per gallon for Arctic, dropped temporarily to 45 cents in May, advanced in 

 June and July to 55 cents, and continued at about that figure the remainder of the 1 year, closing at 53 cents. Hump- 

 back and South Sea oils have ruled at about, 3 cents per gallon less. 



The price of whalebone opened the year at $1.:!U per pound, advancing soon to $1.75 to $1.90, and continuing at 

 about these figures until fall, closing the year at, 1.40. South Sea bone has sold for about 20 cents per pound less. 



TRADE REVIEW FOB 1B82. 



Review of the whale fishery for 1882. The year just closed has been without features of special note. Several vessels 

 have been lost at sea, mostly in different localities, the only loss of life being the officers and crew of schooner Pilot's 

 Bride, of New London. At home, the continued low price of sperm oil has discouraged those engaged in that branch 

 of the business, and fast leading to its discontinuance. 



The present whaling fleet numbers one hundred and forty-seven, against, one hundred and sixty-one a year ago, 

 of which number one hundred and five are now at sea. Many of those in port are to be withdrawn for merchant 

 service, while others have become too dilapidated to warrant repairs. 



Sperm whaling during the past year has continued to droop, only eight vessels having taken in excess of 500 

 barrels each, of which four cruised on the coast of Chili, and four in other localities. The owners, tired of small 

 catches and ridiculously low prices, are changing their vessels to right whaling or withdrawing them from the busi- 

 ness. Indications point to an import of 20,000 barrels for the present year, and a probable reduction in the future. 

 As the oil cannot be produced at a less cost than $1.25 per gallon, we cannot blame our merchants for transferring 

 their time and capital to other enterprises. 



Right whaling has been prosecuted with fair success. Thirty vessels cruised in the Northern Pacific, averaging 

 to each 707 barrels of oil and 11,730 pounds of whalebone, in addition to which they took on their between-season 

 cruises an aggregate of 2,800 barrels sperm, 720 barrels whale oil, and 4,0(0 pounds of whalebone. 



Two vessels were lost in the Arctic in the early part of the season by being crushed in the ice. If bad weather 

 had not unexpectedly prevailed during the latter part of tbe season, the catch would have been much larger. Many 

 additions are to be made to the fleet the coming vear. 



The Southern right whalers were quite fortunate, and fair catches were made on the Tristan grounds and other 

 localities. 



The consumption of our different products is an interesting subject, and one that, requires from us some attention. 

 It has always been our custom to report as the consumption for the year the amounts clea red from our import, markets 

 by tbe refiners and manufacturers, regardless of the stocks the latter were carrying at the close of the year. The 



