342 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Buyers will not take more than they want from week to week, and, 

 as a rule, prefer paying a little more money for a small lot than they 

 could buy a large parcel for. 



There is a rumor in the street to-day that 500 bbls. have sold at 46c., 

 but one parcel, at least, can be had at 45c.; a sale of 50 bbls. at 46c. 



May 3. 



Menhaden is dull. We hear of no sales from first hands since the 500 

 bbls. which we reported last week, which was for export to France, and 

 at a private price. A dealer sold 25 bbls. to a consumer at 48c. for 

 choice. 



May 10. 



Menhaden is quiet and easy, prices tending downward. The fishing 

 has not fairly commenced, but we have had two lots of new oil in ; the 

 first, 17 bbls., came last week to Cory & Co., and was refined ; this week 

 40 bbls. came to T. G. Hunt, but has not been sold. The quality is good. 

 The only sale we hear of is 150 bbls., good old oil, at 44c. 



May 17. 



Menhaden oil has declined during the past week, and closes at 35c. for 

 prime new oil. The arrivals the past week of new have been about 600 

 bbls., of quality equal or superior to any ever before made. While our 

 dealers carry but small stocks of old, the loss on this is very large, and 

 they have not been in a position to materially lower prices for the manu- 

 factured kinds ', but with a pressure to sell, the tendency is downward. 



The oil catch promises to be large, the fish being very fat and yield 

 ing well. The probabilities are that as low prices will rule as last year, 

 unless we have a good export demand. The sales are 25 bbls. bleached, 

 at 50c. ; 100 bbls. do., at 48c., and less would probably now buy ; 100 

 bbls. old crude oil in New Bedford, to go to Boston, at 44c. ; 325 bbls. 

 old, here, at 41c. ; 150 bbls. do., for export, at 37|c. ; 200 bbls. do., at 

 35 ® 36c., and 17 bbls. at 35c. 



May 24. 



Meuhaden oil has come to hand rather sparingly the past week, and 

 the few lots on the way have nearly all been sold. The price is 35c. for 

 good oil, and must be regarded firm under the present circumstances; 

 but should there be any large hauls of fish, or the yield increase, prices 

 must go lower. Our dealers carry a small stock, but are not inclined 

 to buy any quantity at the present time. Should their trade improve, 

 however, and the catch of oil continue light, they would come into 

 market in about two weeks, and probably pay an advance. The latest 

 report from Long Island coast, and the sound, is that the fish are not 

 plenty, small, and yielding two gallons, poor quality. There is consid- 

 erable speculation as to future prices, and it is generally believed with 

 an average catch, such as last year, prices will range from 30 to 35c. ; 

 but should there be a catch equal to year before last, considerably less 

 than 30c. would be reached, or a price low enough to induce exporters to 



