FISHERIES OF PORTO RICO. 



13 



Wholesale values of dry cod for the past three years per 100 pounds 

 are here shown by months, as ascertained from the books of dealers at 

 Mayaguez : 



Month. 



January — 

 February . 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September - 

 October . . . 

 November. 

 December . 



$5.50 



5.00 

 4.50 

 5.50 

 6.25 

 5.50 

 4.50 

 8.75 

 9.00 

 7.00 

 6.00 



6.12i 



1897. 



$5.50 

 6.00 

 5.50 

 6.00 

 7.00 

 8.00 

 7.00 

 5.00 

 5.50 

 6.25 

 6.00 

 6.50 



6.20 



1898. 



$6.00 

 7.00 

 7.00 

 7.50 

 9.25 



10.50 

 8.25 



10.50 

 10.00 

 8.25 



During January, 1899, the market was as follows: 



Codfish, $8 i^er 100 pounds; hake, $5 to $6 per 100 pounds. 

 Haddock, $7 per 100 pounds ; pollock, $5 to $6 per 100 pounds. 

 Pickled herring, $4 to $6 per barrel for round and split; the latter $1 a barrel 

 more than round. 

 Sardines in oil or mustard, in J-pound boxes, 70 to 90 cents a dozen. 



All quotations given are on a basis of Spanish money, which, on 

 account of fluctuations, has resulted in an unsteady market to both 

 receivers and shippers. 



AEECIBO. 



Of the ports on the north side of Porto Eico this place is second only 

 to San Juan, with which it is connected on the west by 58 miles of 

 railroad. It has a population of 6,000 to 8,000. The harbor is much 

 exposed, with dangerous reels close to the shore. Cargoes have to be 

 lightered to and from vessels. 



In the imports of dry and pickled fish this city ranks fourth in the 

 amount of value, which in 1897 were as follows : 



Canned fish imports were all from Spain, amounting to $2,333. 



Of the dry fish handled, some 25 per ceut additional to the above 

 was received from the San Juan and Ponce importers. The original 

 importers of the several ports draw on or supply each other according 

 to the condition of the trade. The imports for 1897 are said to have 

 been on an average with those of past years. 



The Jl^ncipal fishery imports consisted of small- sized dry cod from 

 Nova Scotia. Receipts in recent years have been handled principally 



by the following firms: 

 Artau & Co. 



G. Ledesma & Co., Eosas & Co., Ledesma, 



