352 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



" The season has opened this year more successfully than ever be- 

 fore. We gave a few figures last week of the first day's catch by 

 some of the gangs on Gardiner's and Peconic Bays. On Friday and 

 Saturday Capt. J. S. Biggs took 247,500, and on Monday he took 

 250,000. Capt. Mart. Griffing also made large hauls, but we did not 

 get the precise figures ; however, up to May 2d he was ' high hook," 

 having taken about 670,000, while the next nearest catch was that of 

 Capt. Talman, who had taken 635,000. On the 1st, seven steamers, 

 including two from Connecticut and two from Ehode Island, were fish- 

 ing in the bays." 



May 16. 



Menhaden oil is steady, as the export sales for the past few weeks 

 have left no surplus on the market, and dealers are not very well 

 supplied. The arrivals for the past week have not been large, and 

 fishing is said to have fallen off a little. The sales reported are 20 

 bbls. dark at 36c., 200 bbls. prime at 37^c., 60 bbls. at 38c., and a 

 small lot of Southern at 35c. A Greenport journal says : 



"The catch of menhaden has been light this week. Unfavorable 

 weather and the departure from the bays of the first ' run ' of fish, 

 have prevented most of the gangs from getting many. On Tuesday, 

 Capt. Tallman, of stmr. E. F. Price, took 150,000 in the ocean off East- 

 hampton." 



A Sag Harbor journal of the 10th says: 



" During the last two weeks the bunker or menhaden fishery has 

 been very brisk, exceeding that of any previous season of late, both 

 as to the fatness of the first run and as to the time of striking on 

 the coast, the fish coming into our waters some two weeks earlier 

 than usual, and making four to five gallons of oil to the thousand. Dur- 

 ing last week the Sterling Oil- Works at Cedar Point took in 800,000 

 fish, and in three days of the same week Wells's factory took 1,000,000." 



May 23. 



Menhaden oil is not coming to hand very freely, as the catch of 

 late has not been very good, and most of the new had been sold be- 

 fore for shipment. The old stock is about closed out. The sales re- 

 ported are 900 bbls. old and 300 bbls. new, for shipment at 37 <a) 37ic. 

 50 bbls. new at 36c., and 75 bbls. at 35 © 37c. 



May 30. 



Menhaden oil is rather easier at the close. The catch has been fair, 

 but the export orders had been mostly filled, and the lots are now 

 coming on the home markets. The sales reported are 160 bbls. at 37c., 

 110 bbls. at 36ic., and 70 bbls. at 36c., with sellers at the close at 

 this price. 



June 6. 



Menhaden oil has been more plenty and prices have declined as 

 home buyers were getting full supplies and exporters not taking. The 

 market closes quiet. The sales since our last are 70 bbls. at 36Jc., 

 90 bbls. at 36c., 80 bbls. at 35c., and 250 bbls. at 34c. 



