326 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



latter were carrying at the close of the year. In accordance with this 

 custom the report for the year 1881 showed a consumption of sperm oil 

 in this country of 25,275 barrels, and in England of 3,000 tons, or 30,000 

 barrels, an aggregate of 55,000 barrels, when actually the large stocks 

 in refiners' hands a year ago makes it probable that the actual consump- 

 tion was not much in excess of 40,000 barrels. 



Below is a carefully made statement of the estimated actual consump- 

 tion for 1882 : 



Barrels. 



Crude sperm oil in importers' liands January 1, 1882 16, 275 



Crude sperm oil in refiners' liands in United States and England 16, 300 



Crude sperm oil imported into United States in 1882 29, 875 



Crude sperm oil imported into England from the colonies, «&c 3, 850 



66, 300 



Less stock in importers' liands January 1, 1883 20, 100 



Less stock in refiners' liands in United States, and importers' and refin- 

 ers' hands in England 6, 000 



26, 100 



Net consumption for the year 40, 200 



Whale oil is rapidly absorbed as soon as it arrives in market, and 

 whalebone has been used during the past year to a greater extent than 

 heretofore. 



Sperm oil, from 95 cents at the commencement of the year, advanced 

 steadily to $1.05 in February, $1.10 in April, $1.11 in July, and then 

 gradually receded, touching 96 cents at the close of the year. 



Whale oil from 53 cents in January, gradually advanced, touching 59 

 cents in September, and declining in December to 55 cents. 



Whalebone opened the year at $1.40 and steadily advanced, touching 

 $2.25 in October, and closing the year at $2. 



The import of sperm oil for the year 1883 is estimated at 20,000 bar- 

 rels, but that of whale oil or whalebone cannot be predicted, it being 

 dependent on the success of the Arctic fleet. 



The quantity of sperm oil at present on board the whaling fleet is 

 5,300 barrels, against 12,000 barrels a year ago, being the smallest 

 amount known. 



Fortieth annual review of the whale-fishery of the 

 United States. — The year 1883 has been one of loss to those engaged 

 in this business, and its results have been discouraging. The failure 

 of the Arctic season, with small catches in other localities, has brought 

 but small remuneration to those who risk their capital in the whale- 

 fishery. 



The fleet now numbers 125 vessels of all classes hailing from Atlantic 

 ports, against 138 a year ago, and 19 from San Francisco, as against 8 

 last year. The number of vessels engaged in sperm whaling has been 

 considerably decreased owing to the low prices of oil, while, on account 

 of the value of whalebone, agents are inclined to send most of their ves- 



