HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 338 



littlo oil, which is of only fair quality. The tanners are very dull, and 



conscqucntiy the consumption of such oils is very light ; and dealers 



report a very dull trade in tanuer.s' oils. Owing to this fact, unless we 



have an export demand, prices will have to rule very low. Most of the 



dealers carry a good stock. Sales during the past week that we have 



reported to us are 4G bbls., at 3Gc. ; 24 bbls., at 36c. ; 28 bbls., at 37c. j 



and 60 bbls., at 37ic. ]S"o sales of cod to report. 



June 23. 



Menhaden is quiet; the demand is light, but there is not much coming 



forward. The tish are uncertain and the yield small. We hear of a 



sale for export of 125 bbls., at 3Cc. ; 200 bbls. for home use, at 37c.; 20 



bbls., at 37c. ; 67 bbls., at 38c. ; and 50 bbls., at 36c. 



June 30. 



Menhaden is dull here, as the demand for tanners' oils is very light. 



Prices have declined ; and sales have been made of 160 bbls., at 35c. 



and 100 bbls., at 35^c., both cash. The fishermen are doing fairly, and 



unless we have more home trade, we will have to look to foreign mar 



kets for an outlet. We hear that some orders are in the market now^ 



and that one party is busy filling quite a large one which has not been 



reported. 



July 7. 



Menhaden rules quiet and steady at 35c., with some export demand 



at this price. The lots which come to hand and sold are 90 bbls., 30 



bbls., 25 bbls., 50 bbls., 100 bbls. ; part of the last two brought 36 ® 37c. 



from a consumer and part for export. 



July 14. 



Menhaden has come to hand in fair quantities, and is tiiken by home 



and export buyers at 35c. for good oil, which seems to be the market 



price, buyers being unwilling to pay more and sellers refusing to take 



less. The shipments of over 1,000 bbls. to Glasgow last week are said 



to have been pressed Maine oil, and sent on owners' account. The 



sales here have been 350 bbls., in lots, for export, and 490 bbls. for home 



use, all at or on a basis of 35c. 



July 21. 



Menhaden is quiet at 34® 35c. Following our last, there were two 



lots of oil oiferiug to arrive — one from Maine, of about 500 bbls., and 



one of about 150 bbls., Western. A bid of 35c. was asked for these and 



could not be had in this market, and then 34Jc., cash, would have 



bought. Indeed, the market was weak, owing to a decline of £2 per 



ton — the market being now £33 — in London, and a falling oft' in the 



price of gold here, which caused shipping limits to be reduced to about 



34 c. At the same time there were two home buyers ready to take 



small lots of nice oil at 35 c. on the spot, but their requirements would 



be supplied with a very small quantity. On Thursday the Maine oil on 



the way to this market was disposed of to a ]^ew Bedford refiner at 35c.^ 



and since there have been the following sales : 200 bbls., on spot, at 



34.^0.; 500 bbls., to arrive, at 34ic. ; 50 bbls., on spot, at 35c.; 50 bbls.. 



