HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 337 



are that higher prices will rule in the near future. A letter of recent 

 date says that there are probably not over 1,000 bbls. on the Con- 

 necticut shore. This may be an underestimate, but all of our advices 

 are that the amount is very small. The arrivals and sales here have 

 been 100 bbls., at 33c.; 150 bbls., at 33c.; both for export; 14G bbls., 

 at 32ic., and 100 bbls,, at 33c., for home use. The lot reported in our 

 last should have been 250 bbls. instead of 200. 



October 6. 

 Menhaden oil has been scarce the past week, the only arrivals going 

 on former contracts, one for 180 bbls., for export, at 33.ic., and one of 

 150 bbls., for home use, at 33c.; also a sale of 17 bbls., brown, at 32c. 

 Reports from the fishermen are that there is very little doing, and the 

 prospects are unfavorable. Some of the Maine manufacturers have sent 

 their vessels to the west, but the roughness of the water will not permit 

 them to haul their nets. The tendency of prices would seem upward, 

 particularly for light-colored, and as high as 35c. might be paid for a 

 nice lot. The late fishing may prove good, as it did last year ; but at 

 the present time the chances do not seem favorable. Exporters in this 

 market say they can pay no advance, and the only orders we hear of 

 are at 32c. 



October 13. 

 Menhaden has been rather scarce of late, and the tendency of the 

 market is upward. A week will decide whether the fall catch will be 

 good or not. At the present time fishing is very poor, but they expect 

 better fish and more of them next week. The arrivals have been about 

 425 bbls., and 100 sold at 32c., 76 at 33c., 106 at 32ic., and 150 for 

 export on private terms. Buyers will take s^W lots offered them at 

 present rates. Bleached oil has been advanced, sales having been made 

 of 50 bbls., at 47c., and held at 4Sc. now. 



October 20. 

 Menhaden oil is higher. The catch has not improved much and can 

 hardly amount to a great deal hereafter. Several of the manufacturers 

 report cousiderable losses in their business, and hope for a run of good 

 fat fish yet. There have been no arrivals since our last, but a small cargo, 

 is expected. We think the next sales of good sound oil will be about. 

 30c. Maine oil is now held at 40c. in New Bedford, there having been: 

 a cargo sold to arrive there of about 703 bbls., at 39c. Bleached is 

 higher, and 50 bbls. have sold at 60c., for pressed. 



October 27. 

 Menhaden oil has been very excited, a movement having commenced 

 following our last which ran up the price so that holders in the East 

 asked above 40c., and sales were made here up to that price, while 

 prices have shown no weakness, 40c. having been bid and refused here 

 for a lot of Long Island oil on spot. The news of a good catch of whale- 

 oil by the Northern whaling-fleet, and letters received to day from Fall 

 Kiver, where the Maine fishermen are hauling, and also from Barren 



