338 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Island, reporting plenty offish and a large yield of oil, may cause more 

 to be pressed on the market to obtain present rates, and a reaction may 

 take place. The sales reported are 1,400 bbls. in New Bedford, at 37c.; 

 900 bbls., at 39c. ; 500 bbls. on private terms, and 100 bbls. reported at 

 40o.; 1,000 bbls. of Maine oil to arrive here, at 40c.; 100 bbls. Sound 

 oil to arrive here, at 34c.; 100 bbls., at 3Gc.; 150 bbls., at 37^c., and 142 

 bbl;s., at 40c. There has been much activity in bleached, and we hear 

 of the following sales: 534 bbls., all at 50c., small lots now being held 

 as high as 55c. 



November 3. 

 Menhaden oil has been quiet the past week, but steady in price, even 

 though the reports are quite favorable from the fishermen, who are said 

 to have had a good run all last week. The season has so far advanced 

 now that the catch from this out cannot be very great, and holders are 

 firm in their ideas asking, and we hear of no lots offering for less than 

 42c., with sales of 850 bbls., at 40c. Part of last week large hauls of 

 mackerel were made by the menhaden fishermen. We hear of a vessel 

 being chartered last week and a cargo of menhaden sent to the East, 

 the boats which caught them not having time to return with their load. 



November 10. 



Menhaden oil has come to hand more freely of late, as the catch is 

 reported pretty good, but will shortly end. Dealers here take all that 

 come to hand at 40c., but we do not hear of their being willing to pay 

 any more. Sales are 453 bbls. on spot at 40c. ; 300 bbls. for forward de- 

 livery, and 70 bbls. on spot on private terms, but no doubt at same 

 price. The oil coming now is very handsome. 



November 17. 



Menhaden oil is firm, and there are free buyers. Most of the fisher- 

 men have stopped work. The stock held back is thought to be small, 

 and prices may advance if trade should improve. We hear that the 

 Maine oil in New. Bedford is now held out of market. The sales are re- 

 ported of 400 bbls., spot, at 40c. ; 100 bbls. at 41c. ; 220 bbls., to arrive, at 

 40c.; 31 bbls., dark, on spot, at 40o.; 50 bbls., light, to a consumer, at 43c. 

 and 1,000 bbls. in New Bedford reported at 45c. 



November 24. 



Menhaden oil is high in New Bedford, and we hear that holders there 

 ask 47^0., but our market has not advanced recently. Trade for tan- 

 ners' oils is light, and dealers will not pay high prices. In New Bed- 

 ford the oil is refined. The sales here are 245 bbls., to arrive, at 40c. for 

 dark and 41c. for light ; 25 bbls., dark, at 40^c. ; 35 bbls., good, at 41c., 

 and 140 bbls., selected, at 42c. In New Bedford a lot of 400 bbls. sold 

 at 46c. 



December 1. 



Menhaden oil has been in a hard position to quote. In the East 

 prices are very high and stock scarce. The few lots coming here have 



