148 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



with 73,137 tons, against 223 ships and barks, 25 brigs, 88 schooners, with 74,519 tons same time in 1869, showing a 

 decrease of 15 vessels and 1,382 tons, only 25 of which grows ont of remeasurement. As showing the extraordinary 

 falling off in ten years, we give the following figures : 



This is an apparent difference of 103,705 tons, bat owing to loss by remeasurement, the actual loss in tonnage is 

 93,095 tons; showing in the ten years a decrease of 55 per cent. We predict a further deduction in the fleet the 

 present year, unless prices materially improve. At present there are eight whalers at this port for sale, and a large 

 number of schooners at Proviucetown and other ports. 



The Atlantic fishery, taken as a whole, was less successful than in former years, the average catch being 12 per 

 cent, less than for three years previous, while the instances of good catches have been largely, reduced. 



We give below a statement of the Atlantic sperm fishery for the past four years: 



About one-fourth of the catch was taken in the South Atlantic. 



The fleet to cruise in the North and South Atlantic will not probably exceed one hundred and twenty-five vessels, 

 against an average of three years previously of one hundred and fifty -four vessels; this being brought about by the 

 reduced average catch and reduced prices, and is chiefly shown in the Provincetown fleet, where seven have already 

 been withdrawn and fifteen others are in port there, a number of which it is contemplated withdrawing. 



The Indian Ocean, New Holland, and Soloo Sea grounds have been visited by the usual number of vessels, but 

 only a few have been more than moderately successful. 



The Pacific fleet has been well distributed on New Zealand and the West Coast, but has not been as successful as 

 for a few years past ; some have done well but the average has been moderate. Five of the New Zealand fleet changed 

 their cruising grounds and went humpbacking, and were successful in taking an average of 750 barrels. A single 

 vessel, the bark Camilla, has been cruising on the old Japan ground with fair success. 



The North Pacific fleet of 1869 comprised forty-four American and six foreign ships, fifty in all, the number 

 anticipated in our last review, against sixty-eight vessels in 1868. Owing to the scarcity of whales in the Arctic early 

 in the season, many gave their attention to the capturing of walrus, and about 4,000 barrels of oil were taken from 

 them, and, as in the previous year, it was not until late in August that the whales were found iu abundance at Point 

 Barrow, where all present got good fares of oil, the only barrier thereto being the extreme cold. The catch was large 

 for the small fleet engaged, and gave an average of 990 barrels oil and 14,000 pounds bone. The fall short in bone is 

 owing to the walrus oil (which has no bone with it) being included in the whale. Only one vessel went to Bristol 

 Bay, where she got 500 barrels whale oil aud 2,000 pounds bone, and but six to the Ochotek Sea, where whales were 

 scarce, the entire catch being 2,575 barrels oil and 21,800 pounds bone, the average being smaller than for many pre- 

 vious years. The bark Eagle, of New Bedford, was totally lost in the Arctic in September, having taken 1,600 barrels 

 oil and 25,000 pounds bone, the only serious disaster to the fleet. For a number of years the coast whaling has been 

 neglected, but it is expected that several whalers will this winter visit, the bays there, which in former years have 

 furnished good whaling. The entire fleet visited the Sandwich Islands last fall, except the Florida, which belongs 

 at San Francisco. In this connection we would invite attention to the following article from the San Francisco 

 Commercial Herald : 



" Of the large whaling fleet engaged iu the Ochotsk and Arctic Seas, but a siugle one visited this port last year, 

 all the rest having rendezvoused at the Hawaiian Islands. A good niauy of them found fault with the treatment 

 accorded by the American consul, and expressed a determination to come here next season. At least twenty-five will 

 adopt that course, and it would be good policy to pass some stringent law by which the contracts made with their 

 crews could be enforced. The Florida is the only vessel that entered the harbor from the Polar Seas. Her oil sold at 

 a high figure, say 65 70 cents. The bone was forwarded by rail to New York at a merely nominal rate, say 3i 

 cents per pound, currency. It is said by returned whalemen who passed through this city for New Bedford overland, 

 in December last, that a considerable number of the whaling fleet will iu future resort to this harbor for supplies, &c., 

 presenting, as it does, advantages of markets and home advices by telegraph, besides monetary exchanges and facili- 

 ties that are not elsewhere attainable," 



