346 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



September 13. 

 Menhaden oil. — The market continues firm for this article, and holders 

 are asking 34 ® 35c. for a prime article, but we note sales of 400 bbls., 

 at 33 © 34c. The Sound catch has been light, and the prevailing price 

 for this product has been 32 ® 33c. from brown to light, but holders are 

 asking an advance on Sound makes, 34c. for brown and 34 ® 35c. for 

 light. The Maine catch of fish is mostly over, and the catch has been 

 very fair as to quality and excellent as to quantity, but still not up to 

 former seasons as regards quantity. Dealers and manufacturers, es- 

 pecially in Boston, have bought more freely of Maine oils than other 

 makes. The present price for Boston, New Bedford, and New York 

 delivery is 35c. The stock at New Bedford is reported small, with a 

 small account held back by fishermen for higher prices. The future of 

 this market is, however, uncertain, as there remains yet two mouths for 

 fishing from Maine to south side of Long Island, and the conclusion is 

 that prices will depend on this future catch, and it is doubted if export- 

 ers can take any considerable quantity if prices advance too far. 



September 20. 



Menhaden oil. — The market remains steady and without change as 



regards prices since our last. The eastern catch is now about over, yet 



the fishermen are still hauling up the fish, and the balance of the catch 



is very uncertain, depending entirely upon the weather ; and 33 ® 35c. 



is likely to be the ruling prices for at least the balance of September. 



There is little or no oil in first hands in this market. We note sales of 



600 barrels Maine oil at 34c. 



September 27. 



Menhaden oil. — The sales for the past week have been only in a job- 

 bing way (if at all), and prices remain about as last reported. The weather 

 for the past week has been unfavorable for the fishermen, and the main 

 gangs have laid up, while the Long Island fishing is poor. Sales of a 

 parcel of rejections have been made at 30c., but holders seem firm in 

 their views at 34 © 35c. for prime oil. We note sales of 1,690 bbls. 

 bleached at 44^ © 46^c. cash. 



October 4. 



Menhaden oils have been very quiet here, as there have been no arriv- 

 als here of any account, and the market is nominally firm. The only 

 sales are 100 bbls., at 35c. for prime and 30c. for inferior, and 100 bbls. 

 inferior at 30 ® 31c. 



Thus far the Sound fishing has been a failure, but they are expecting 

 the fat large fish which have been so plenty in Maine to come to the 

 Sound yet. The fish they are now taking are very small and yield no 

 oil. The Maine fishing has been splendid, and one oil manufacturer is 

 said to have made 10,000 bbls. of oil. 



October 11. 



Menhaden oil is higher, as the fishing in the Sound has not improved. 



