[25] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



tbe market, always meets with a ready sale at remunerative prices. Of 

 the boue-bearing whales the most profitable are the B. mysticetiis, E. cid- 

 lamach, and U. cisarctica. The former also yields a fine grade of oil, 

 known commercially as "bowhead oil" or "arctic oil." The other spe- 

 cies, consisting of the humpback and California grays, and finbacks, 

 yield " short bone," which is not of so much commercial importance. 



The principal grades of bone are known in market as " arctic," " north- 

 west," " South Sea," " humpback," and " calf." The smaller pieces, which 

 are bundled separately, are known as " cullins." According to the New 

 Bedford Shipping List, February 6, 1883, the importation of bone from 

 January 1 of the present year to February 5, inclusive, amounted to 

 138,200 pounds, against 18,700 pounds during the same length of time 

 in 1882. 



Blackfish {Globioceplialus sp.) are also captured for their oil, and 

 rarely the sperm-whale porpoise {Hyperoodon hidens) or the "square- 

 headed grampus" of the whalemen. The latter yields a fine grade of 

 oil, but, owing to the difficulties attendant upon its capture, whalemen 

 seldom encounter it. The former are taken at sea, and at times on the 

 coast of Cajie Cod. The white whale {DelpMnapterus catodon (Linn.) 

 Gill) is occasionally captured in the rivers flowing into Cumberland 

 Inlet, by the New London and Kew Bedford whalemen. 



As to the present condition and statistics of the whale fishery, I sub- 

 mit herewith the following paper, i^repared by Mr. A. Howard Clark, 

 Assistant, United States National Museum. 



