yill -REVIEW OF THE WHALE FISHERY FOR 1882 AND 188«. 



Compiled by Chas. W. Smiley. 

 [From the Whalemen's Shipping List, and Merchants' Transcript.] 



Thirty-ninth annual review of the whale-fishery of the 

 UNITED STATES. — The year 1882 passed away without any features of 

 special note. Several vessels were lost at sea, mostly in different local- 

 ities. The only loss of life was that of the officers and crew of the 

 schooner Pilot's Bride, of IJTew London. At home, the continued low 

 price of sperm oil has discouraged those engaged in that branch of the 

 business, and is fast leading to its discontinuance. 



The present whaling fleet numbers 147, against 161 a year ago, of 

 which number 105 are now at sea. Many of those in port are to be 

 withdrawn for merchant service, while others have become too dilapi- 

 dated to warrant repairs. 



Sperm whaling during the past year has continued to droop, only 

 8 vessels having taken more than 500 barrels each, of which 4 cruised 

 on the coast of Ohili, and 4 in other localities. The. owners, tired of 

 small catches and ridiculously low prices, are changing their vessels to 

 right-whaling or withdrawing them from the business. Indications 

 point to an import of 20,000 barrels for the present year, and a probable 

 reduction in the future. As the oil cannot be produced at a less cost 

 than $1.25 per gallon, we cannot blame our merchants for transferring 

 their time and capital to other enterprises. 



Eight-whaling has been prosecuted with fair success. Thirty vessels 

 cruised in the ISTorthern Pacific, averaging to each 767 barrels of oil and 

 11,730 pounds of whalebone, in addition to which they took on their 

 between-season cruises an aggregate of 2,800 barrels of sperm, 750 bar- 

 rels of whale oil, and 4,000 pounds of whalebone. 



Two vessels were lost in the Arctic Ocean during the early part of 

 the season by being crushed in the ice. If bad weather had not unex- 

 pectedly prevailed during the latter part of the season, the catch would 

 have been much larger. Many additions are to be made to the fleet the 

 coming year. 



The southern right-whalers were fortunate, and fair catches were 

 made on the Tristan grounds and other localities. 



The consumption of different products is an interesting subject, and 

 one that requires some attention. It has always been the custom to re- 

 port as the consumption for the year, the amounts cleared from import 

 markets by the refiners and manufacturers, regardless of the stocks the 



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