TI1K \\IIALK KISI1KRY. 



85 



Xtatcmfnt slnmiiui tin' numlii r t>f .tmerii-aii IT.S.V/N in I lie Xortli I'm-ifu: ]!>< I 1 K. li 11, .;; uml ll<i-ir catch, <fc. Continued. 



* A i clio whalebone not ree.orJed separate prior to 1808. 



t Since the above was compiled Ibo reports for subsequent years have been received, as follows : 1881, 23 vessels, 24, 740 barrels of whale 

 oil, 387,000 pounds whalebone ; 1S<J. :!_' vessels, 22,975 barrels whale oil, 360,500 pounds whalebone; 1883, 38 vessels, 10,155 barrels whale oil, 

 159,400 pounds whalebone; 1884, 39 vessels, 20,450 barrels whale nil, 318,700 pounds whalebone. The fleet in 1880 included two steamers, in 

 1884 the number of steamers had iunras. .1 to nine. Another marked change in this fishery is the larger proportion of vessels hailing from 

 San Francisco, as is shown on subsequent pages in the details of each year's voyage. 



The cruising grounds of the fleet, prior to 1848, were south of Bering Strait, chiefly on the Northwest Ground. In 1348 a vessel passed 

 through the Strait and was very successful. From that date the Arctic fleet increased rapidly in numbers. Since the year 1868 the principal 

 i r-ort "f the North Pacific fleet (so cnllr.l) has been the Arctic Ocean north of Bering Strait, as shown on following pages. 



