[3] REVIEW OF THE WHALE FISHERY, 1882-'88. 327 



sels to the Arctic Ocean and other right-whale regions. Indications 

 point to a steady decrease in the number of vessels sailing from At- 

 lantic ports, and perhaps a small increase in the number sailing from 

 San Francisco for the Arctic Ocean. 



A new feature of the past year, arising from the increase of Arctic 

 whaling at San Francisco, has been the establishment of extensive 

 works at that place for the manufacture and sale of whale and sperm 

 oil, thus enabling the owners there located, as well as others who im- 

 port oils at that place, to find a market without paying the heavy cost 

 of shipping the same to the Atlantic sea-board. It is understood that 

 the whole Arctic catch of oil, about 10,000 barrels, has been purchased 

 at San Francisco at increased prices. Their works, in addition to large 

 facilities for the manufacture of sperm candles, have a capacity of 150 

 barrels of oil per day, and are to be enlarged if the imports at that 

 place and the sales of their products shall warrant. 



Sperm whaling continues to decline, and no catches of anj^ amount 

 were made during the year except a few in the Atlantic Ocean and two 

 or three off Patagonia. The number of ships and barks now in that 

 fishery at sea is 48, most of which will follow right- whaling during half 

 of the year. The continued low price of oil will soon prevent the busi- 

 ness being followed to any great extent. 



Right-whaling has been unfortunate, and the season in the North Pa- 

 cific, owing to prevalence of ice and bad weather, was a failure. Thirty- 

 eight vessels cruised there, 3 of which were lost, and the remaining 35 

 averaged 274 barrels of oil and 4,350 pounds of whalebone to each. The 

 southern right- whalers were not as fortunate as in the previous year, 

 and their general success was moderate. 



The price of sperm oil, from 96 cents up per gallon on January 1st, 

 rose to $1.05 in April and May, and from that time steadily declined, 

 closing the year at 90 cents. 



Whale oil, from 55 cents in January, continued at about the same 

 price, with the exception of a rise to 59^ cents in April, until December, 

 when, on account of the demand at San Francisco, it advanced, closing 

 the year at 60 cents per gallon asked. 



Whalebone opened the year at $2 per pound for Arctic, and, with a 

 few variations, steadily advanced, until at the close of the year it sold 

 at $4.75 per pound. 



The purchases of sperm oil for consumption during the year have 

 amounted to 32,200 barrels ; the purchases of whale oil to 23,600 bar- 

 rels, and of whalebone 376,000 pounds, all the above being bought at 

 Atlantic ports, besides the purchases at San Francisco of all their im- 

 portations, and quite an amount of oil and bone belonging to Kew Bed- 

 ford vessels. 



The import of sperm oil for 1884 is estimated at 18,000 to 19,000 bar- 

 rels, but that of whale oil and whalebone must depend, as heretofore, 

 on the success of the Arctic whaling fleet. 



