166 



HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



TRADE REVIEW FOR 1884. 



Review of tke whale-fishery for 1884. Another year has passed, and its results, like its predecessors, have heen 

 unsatisfactory and discouraging to those who have cont.iniu d to risk their capital in the whale-fishery. With two or 

 three exceptions the larger class of vessels that arrived during the year made losing voyages, and with the discouraging 

 features which still exist it is douhtful if they are soon fitted out again. Of the vessels in port one-half at least are 

 known to ho for sale, and of those expected to arrive during this year it is now intended that :i. number will lie offered 

 for sale. 



The North Atlantic fleet was more fortunate on the whole than during the year previous, the smaller vessels 

 doing the best. Some good catches of sperm oil were made on the west coast of South America during the months 

 from April to October, seven vessels averaging 700 barrels, one taking 1.200 barrels, and three or four vessels did 

 quite well on New Holland. 



The season in the Arctic was better than that of 1883, but not fully satisfactory, except to some having steamers 

 that penetrated the ice, which the sailing vessels considered unsafe to cuter, thereby obtaining good catches. Thirty- 

 nine vessels cruised there, and the only loss was the steamer Bowhead, of San Francisco, the first one built by the 

 Pacific Whaling Company, and a fine vessel. Her catchings had been previously shipped home. The fleet averaged 

 527 barrels whale oil and 8,380 pounds whalebone. 



Three vessels on New Zealand did well right whaling, taking an average of 700 barrels. 



The total number of vessels of all classes engaged in the business is one hundred and thirty-three, of which nine- 

 teen hail from San Francisco, and all but one engaged in Arctic whaling. The decrease of the catching power during 

 the year was 1,912 tons, the greater portion of which had been engaged in .sperm whaling. 



The present tonnage of the entire fleet is 31,207, of which 3,432 is at home ports. Of the remaining 27,775 tons, 

 about one-half is exclusively engaged in Arctic whaling, oue-quarter exclusively sperm whaling, and the remaining 

 one-quarter sperm and right whaling ; showing the tonnage engaged in sperm whaling to be about 10,400 tons, which 

 is about 20 .per cent, less than last year. 



The consumption of sperm oil was well maintained, notwithstanding the depressed condition of business all over 

 the country during the year. 



The consumption of whale oil was curtailed in consequence of lack of stock, but very little of the Northern catch 

 of 1883 having been sent to the Eastern market. 



In consequence of the high price of whalebone, the consumption was not as largo as the previous year. 



The exports were less than previous years, especially of sperm oil, a large stock having been carried over in Lon- 

 don January 1, 1884. The consumption in Europe of sperm oil reached 13,6T)0 barrels, and the stock remaining on 

 hand January 1, 1885, 426 tons, is about one-half of that on January 1, 18s4. 



Sperm oil began the year at 90 cents, touched 76 cents in November, and closed at 77 cents in December. 



Whale oil began the year at (36^ cents, touched 57 cents in November, and closed at 54 cents in December. 



Whalebone began the year at $4.75, touched $2 in October, and closed at $2.35 in December. * 



Our figures of imports include that imported into San Francisco by vessels owned there, which in former years 

 were omitted. 



We estimate the import of sperm oil for 1885 at 17,000 to 20,000 barrels; that of whale oil and whalebone will 

 depend on the success of the Arctic fleet. 



(6) STATISTICAL TABLES OF PEODTICTS AND VALUES. 



Table showing the receipts from the American fleet, the exports, and the home consumption of sperm and whale oil from 1860 



fo!884. 



