622 U. S. Consul McBougaWs Report on Oils and Jute in Dundee. 



'' The number of seals caught in Newfoundland (Labrador), as above, in 1877, 

 46,600 seals yielding 750 tons oil; in Greenland, 29,400 seals, yielding 342 tons 

 oil ; total, 76,000 seals, 1,092 tons oil. Total in 1876, 57,770 seals, 625 tons oil. 

 Increase in 1877, 18,224 seals, 467 tons oil. 



"At present seal-oil is valued at £32 per ton, while the skins average 5s, each. 

 Calculating the 1,092 tons of oil got this year at £32 gives £34,944, and 76,000 

 skins at 5s. each yield £19,000; so that the total value of the seal-fishing this 

 year is £53,944. Last year the total value of the catch at the seal-fishing was 

 estimated at £37,332 Ws. Increase in 1877, £16,611 4s. 



"Unfortunately five of the eleven vessels that went to the Greenland seal- 

 fishing this year returned clean. But at the whale-fishing there was no such 

 unlucky experience. The thirteen vessels brought from the Greenland whale-fishing 

 this year 81 black whales, yielding 835 tons oil and 42^ tons of bone, and 935 

 white whales, yielding 12b tons oil; total, 1,016 whales, yielding 955 tons oil and 

 42^ tons of bone. 



"In 1876 the catch was 64 black whales, yielding 824 tons oil and 45 tons of 

 bone. Increase in 1877, 17 black whales, 935 white whales, and 131 tons oil. De- 

 crease in bone in 1877, 2J tons. 



"At present the selling price of whale oil is £35 per ton, and bone may be 

 taken at the price £1,400 per ton. The value of 955 tons oil at the price given 

 woidd be £33,425, and the 42i tons of bone would give £59,500. Total value of 

 the whale-fishing for 1877, £92,925. The total value of the whale-fishing for 1876 

 was £64,840, making an increase in 1877 of £28,085. 



"Total value of the seal-fishing in 1877, £53,944; total value of the whale 

 fishing in 1877, £92,925; total for both fishings 1877, £146,869 (of which sum 

 the expense of the fleet has to be deducted). Total for both fishings in 1876, 

 £102,172 16s. Increase on both fishings in 1877, £44,696 4s. 



"This gratifying result, it will be seen, is greatly due to the remarkable suc- 

 cess of the two vessels wliich went to the Newfoundland (Labrador) seal fishing 

 this year. 



"The following is a very complete statement, showing the produce of British 

 vessels from 1865 to 1876, inclusive, at the Davis Straits and Greenland seal and 

 whale fishing. I also include the number of seals and whales caught this year at 

 Greenland and Labrador by the Dundee vessels." 



