PACIFIC COAST FISHERIES. 



203 



time. During 1891 the price varied from $4 to $5 a pound for Arctic 

 bone; in April, 1891, it bad advanced to $6.50, and in October bad 

 dropped to $5, closing- in December at 15.75. Tbe opening price in 

 1892 was $5.62, witb sales up to $6; as tbe season wore on it declined 

 to $5, and later in tbe year to |4. During tbe early fall, news of tbe 

 success or failure of tbe Arctic fisbery is anxiously looked for, and tbe 

 market is governed by tbe same. Tbe prices given are eastern quota- 

 tions, and do not make mucb difference to tbe seamen engaged in tbe 

 taking of tbe wbales ; altbougb tbey sbip on a lay, or sbare, tbe price 

 of wbalebone and oil is usually agreed on in advance, 



Tbe extent of tbe wbaling business carried on by vessels owned at 

 San Francisco is shown in condensed form in tbe following table: 



Summary of the San Francisco xvhale fleet and its operations, 1S90 to 1892. 



Tears. 



1890 

 IhOl 

 1892 



Whalebone. 



Pounds. 



168, 303 

 218, 781 

 192, 950 



Value. 



$710, 239 

 1, 177, 042 

 1, 032, 282 



Sperm oil. 



Gallons. Value 



6,121 

 3,472 

 12, 804 



$3, 979 

 2, 396 

 8,579 



Whale oil. 



Gallons. Value 



286, 901 

 220, 806 

 192, 895 



$120, 498 

 106, 627 

 81,016 



Total 



value of 



catch. 



$834, 716 

 1, 286, 065 

 1,121,877 



There is no fisbery in tbe United States in wbicb a more heterogene- 

 ous, personnel is found than in tbe Pacific wbale fisbery. Nearly every 

 State and every nation is represented, as will appear from tbe follow- 

 ing tables based on tbe official shipping lists : 



TahJe showing the natiintt/ and nationality of the jyersons employed on the San Francisco 



whaling fleet in 1892. 



Countrie.s. 



United States... 



Austria 



Australia 



Belgium 



China 



Canada 



Denmark 



East Indies 



England* 



France 



Germany 



Holland 



Italy 



Ireland 



Japan 



Mexico 



New Brunswick 



Nativity 



Nation- 

 ality. 



Countries. 



New Zealand 



Nova Scotia 



Norway 



Portugal 



Russia 



South America 



Spain 



Scotland 



Sandwich Islands 



Switzerland 



Sweden 



St. Helena 



United States of Colombia 

 West Indies 



Total 



Nativity. 



3 

 11 

 50 

 110 

 19 

 14 



1, 240 



Nation- 

 ality. 



* Tlid nationality of tlic HsJiermen of the various British provinces is shown in the aggregate under 

 the general head of England. 



