308 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



our prices curreut. We have beeu accused "bearing" the market on 



that occasion, but we think our accuser could not have been posted, for 



the very choicest lots in market were offered the day of our issue at 60c., 



and not being able to get that price, asked for a bid of idc. We have 



heard of no sales. 



May 15. 



Menhaden is quiet, and the feeling is easy ; holders do not force sales, 

 but are open for offers j buyers are generally very backward. The 

 sales reported are 150 bbls. in Kew Bedford, and 40 bbls. here at 60c., 

 though other choice lots are offered freely at this price. There have 

 beeu sales of pressed at 62c. 



May 22. 



Menhaden is unsettled and lower. No one quotes higher than 57^c., 

 and no one will bid 55c. There is considerable offering. We hear of 



no sales of lots since our last. 



May 29. 

 Menhaden oil of the new catch is arriving more freely, and prices are 

 lower at the close, with buyers holding off". There have been sales of 

 150 bbls. new at about 50c., but at the close we do not think that more 

 than 47ic. could be obtained ; thus far the oil we have seen is of very 

 good quality, and not inferior, as some parties anticipated it would be. 



eTUNE 5. 



Menhaden oil is lower; the receipts are quite free, and the tendency 

 of prices have beeu steadily downward; the quality coming to this mar- 

 ket has been very good for the first part of the season. The sales are 50 

 bbls. at 47c. ; 43 bbls. at 45c., prompt cash ; 60 bbls. at 45c. ; 45 bbls. at 

 44 Jc, and 50 bbls. at 44c., at which the market closes not very strong; 

 inferior was offered and refused at 40c. 



June 12. 



Menhaden oil ; nothing has beeu done in Maine as yet. 



June 19. 



Menhaden, following our last, was in active request for Boston ac- 

 count, and, to some extent, for shipment, which took about all the sur- 

 plus offerings and checked the downward tendency, and a firm tone now 

 l)revails. The fishermen are holding back as much as possible, and 

 toward the close the run of fish is falling off. They also say that at 40c. 

 per gallon, delivered in this market, there is no margin for making oil. 

 The sales are 200 bbls. at 38c. ; 000 bbls. at 39 ® 40c. ; 200 bbls. at 40c. ; 

 48 bbN. :it 40 ® 40^c., and 75 bbls. taken to account at 40c. 



June 20. 



Meuhodeu has been less plenty this week than la&t, and receivers 

 have been able to get an advance on prime lots of 1 cent per gallon, 

 and the close is steady at 41 cents. From Maine we hear that fish are 

 very scarce, and that the Boston trade are likely to draw on this market 

 for their supply for some time yet ; besides, the fishermen, we believe, 

 eutered last fall into an arrangement not to sell below 60c. till the 15th 

 of July. 



