HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 339 



to be sold at about 42c., at wbicb price dealers stand ready to buy, but 

 as most of tbem bave a good stock tbey are not willing to jiay and ad- 

 vance on tbis, and 258 bbls. just to band were sold at this figure, tbougb 

 we bear that tbere are some outside buyers willing to pay more. Tbe 

 fisbing is all over, and one of tbe Barren Island makers bas failed and 

 is rei)orted as making a bad showing. In Boston we bear tbat 100 bbls. 

 Maine oil sold at 4oc., and now none offering at less tban 47^c. 



December 8. 

 Menbaden bas ruled firm in price with a small supply offering, but 

 jobbers carrying full stocks. All tbe oil in ]S[ew Bedford, some 2,500 

 bbls., has been taken at a private price, and in Boston there remain 

 only 100 bbls. unsold in first bands. The arrivals here have been about 

 750 bbls., part of which brought 41c.; also a resale of 200 bbls. at 45c. 

 There are buyers at from 42 ® 43c. at the close for good oil. 



December 15. 



Menhaden is in small stock in first bands, arrivals being light. The 

 500 bbls. reported in our last are said to have been bought by a Boston 

 house on speculation at an average of about 42^c. There has since 

 been an arrival of 75 bbls., which sold at 43c. to a dealer. The dealers 

 of tbis city are all carrying a pretty fair stock and will probably realize 

 a good profit on the oil they hold if the consuming trade at all im- 

 proves. 



December 22. 



Menbaden oil bas not been received that we bear of since our last, 

 most of the oil having been sent forward before. We have heard of 

 but two transactions ; a lot of 75 bbls. baving sold to come from the 

 factory when wanted, at a price not yet made, and IGO bbls. to arrive 

 at 43c. We bear of a lot of Maine offering in New Bedford at 47^c. 



December 20. 

 Menbaden is firm in price, and all otber fish-oils are tending upward. 

 We hear that two of the contracts made some time ago for bleached 

 were sold some time this month at a premium of $1 per bbl. 



1876. 



January 5. 



Crude menhaden oil is in small stock, probably not over 750 bbls. in the 

 hands of fishermen, 1,000 bbls. in first hands in New Bedford, and 750 

 bbls. in first hands here. TAe holders ask 50c., and will probably get 

 it. There have been sales of 83 bbls. from store here at 47^c., and 50 

 bbls. rather poor at a private price, less than the other. All the pro- 

 ducts from menhaden are comparatively cheaper than the crude article. 



January 12. 

 Menhaden oil bas been taken fairly this week, and the price seems to 

 tend upward, as the supply remaining in the hands of manufacturers 



