The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-12-23

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That this decrease must have some influence
on the price of oil in America and Europe is GER
tain. although the stock there is reported to he
large, with low prices. In more than one re-
pect the season of 1858 has been exceedingly dis
astrous. Owing to the heavy weather, which Is
ALWAYS met with at the North, and the excessive
quantities of ice foe encountered, the damage TO
ships has been severe. and it is rare that we have
had to report SO many repairs needed as during
the past fall. This has caused a greater deten-
ton than usual TO many of the winters visiting
Honolulu. There have been three vessels lost. as
before reported. The French ship Napoleon III
i'm Bhering Sea, ana the ship Columbus and bark
Rajah, of New Bedford, in the Ochotsk. \ mum
Der of vessels have sustained 81 great damages rs
to have been judged unserviceable. Four whalers
have already been condemned mt this port this
fall.
The movements of the whales in the northern
grounds are singularly e~rratic. On the kodiack
and Bristol BAY, where in former seasons n large
amount Of oil has been Obtained, this season little
OF nothing has been procured. Whales have there
been very scarce. Many of the shipmasters with
whom we have conversed think that the same
whales are somewhere along the Northwest coast,
but that they changed their haunts for the sea-
son. and may be as abundant ON their old grounds
next season as in former years.
The result on the Arctic ground has perhaps
been the most singular. Some s~ixty-hve SHIPS
cruised in that ocean. and up to the first of August
met with no success. Whales were sometimes to
be seen, but they were bound through the Straits
with such speed that no boats could overtake
them. If vessel CHANGED to be near the school.
one or two only could be secured. Finding such
ill-luck, about one-half of the ships left the
Straits, bound south, and reported that no whales
were to be got there. 1t was about the 9th OF
August, soon after q part of the vessels had left
for the south. and while some twenty-five re-
manned cruising between East Care and Cape
Lisburne, that whales suddenly appeared, without
Indicating from what quarter they came. They
moved slowly north and towards Burrows Point,
while most of the ships secured each from 500 to
1000 bbIs. The whales then disappeared for two
OF three weeks, and many of the ships left for the
south. The few, however, that remained till
September again fell in with large numbers, and
though the weather was rough, killed n number.
The average of oil taken by the Arctic fleet that
remained till August 18th must have been at least
900 bills.
An old captain, who was among the first to
visit the Arctic ground after its discovery in
1S47, and who has always preferred that ground
for summer cruising, assures us that he has
never yet had a poor season there, and that
the whales have invariably turned up abundant
during some par. of the season. Sometimes it has
been in June, again in July or August, and even
later, in September. He believes that whales ex-
list in vast numbers in that ocean, and that they
have free access throughout the Polar Sea.
whether east or west, though their movements
are very uncertain. There is greater risk on that
ground than, perhaps, on any other, owing to
the strong currents, gales, ice and sudden changes
in the weather.
The reports from the Ochotsk represent the
season to have been very similar to previous
ones, excepting that ice was much more abun-
dant, and less fog. Whales were less abundant
than in former years, of less size, and poorer.
One captain informs us that he killed this season
IS whales, which turned out 1900 bbls. oil. The
same number in 1857 yielded 1900 bbls. and in
1856 he obtained 1900 bbls. from the anne num-
Der. Other captains have had similar expert
ence, which would indicate that the whaling in
that Sea will become less profitable every year.
The average yield of the Ochotsk ground is not
far from $50 bbls. this season.
What the effect Of this seasons work will be
on the interests of whaling, it would be prema-
ture to conjecture. One thing is certain, that
New Bedford ship-owners can receive no great
profits from their investment when their vessels
meet only with such success as they have obtained
this season. That the poor returns of this year
will make some change is certain. 1t may result
in sending out a class of smaller and less expen-
sive vessels than the greater part of those now in
employ. If fifty harks Of 500 tons each can be
fitted out at an average outlay Of not over S25,ooO
each. and this fleet bring in as much oil as the
same number of larger vessels sailing at from
SAC, 600 to $50, 900 each, it is clear that the
former should be used. and one-half the capital
invested saved. Economy in some way will have
tn he studied. or the North Pacific whaling bust