HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 339 



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

 as most of tbem Lave a good stock they are not willing to pay and ad- 

 vance on this, and 258 bbls. just to hand were sold at this figure, though 

 ■we hear that there are some outside buyers willing to pay more. The 

 fishing is all over, and one of the Barren Island makers has failed and 

 is reported as making a bad showing. In Boston we hear that 100 bbls. 

 Maine oil sold at 45c., and now none offering at less than 47^c. 



December 8. 

 Menhaden has ruled firm in price with a small supply offering, but 

 jobbers carrying full stocks. All the oil in New Bedford, some 2,500 

 bbls., has been taken at a i)rivate price, and in Boston there remain 

 only 100 bbls. unsold in first hands. 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 hands, 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 42Jc. There has since 

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

 of this 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. 



Menhaden oil has not been received that we hear 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. having sold to come from the 

 factory when wanted, at a price not yet made, and 160 bbls. to arrive 

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



December 29, 

 Menhaden is firm in price, and all other 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. The 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 has been taken fairly this week, and the price seems to 

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



