The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-03-25

nOTl TNluTU0tl Win NuAN HNN"N " NN'''
South shetland scaling and whaling was
very successful, and another fleet has
gone to complete the work Of cxtirpatiou'
Sperm whaling has hardly had better
average result than right whaling, but
while its catches are perhaps less in value,
its expenses Of continuing voyage are
also less In the North Atlantic many
good fares were taken, the largest being
about 500 bbls, whereas in former years
500 TO zoo bbls. have been reached in a
single cruise. In the South Atlantic less
oil has been taken than formerly. though
several good catches were made, one YES
sci taking coo bbls. in six weeks In the
Indian Ocean and on New Holland, with
few exceptions the whaling has been slim ;
whales were quite plenty early in the
wear, but the weather was bad; for the
greater part of the year but few whales
were seen. The New Zealand ground has
been dry and deserted by whales, only a
few ships having done fairly, while one or
two have been fortunate in seeing and
getting them. The feet is small there.
The West Coast has but few sperm cruis-
ers there, and several have done quite
well, Others poorly. The bark Courser,
with zoo bbls. of sperm oil on board, was
run down by an English steamer.
All around the sperm whaling grounds
have not been up to former years in tax
ings, and it would seem that small feet
does not increase the chances of great
catch. At present prices for sperm oil,
say SL5O, we think sperm whaling will
outlive all other kinds, though even with
a reduced catch we find reduced con-
sumption.
The fleet for the coming year will be
distributed about as follows North and
South Atlantic, SO vessels; Indian Ocean,
l7vessels Pacific Ocean, 81 vessels; Hud-
sons Bay and Cumberland Inlet, YES
sells North Pacific, - vessels.
The demand for sperm oil was good
during the year. The import exceeded
but very little the highest estimate, and
by reference to the comparative statement
Of consumption of oils, it will be seen that
the supply was $500 bbls against SO, 700
bbls in 1872, and that the home consump-
ton was equal TO that Of the preceding
year, while the export fell off about 5000
bbls, little more than the reported de
crease in consumption of this kind of oil
in the United Kingdom. The price open
ed st $3.50. and advanced TO $l.5T in Feb
ruary, fuctuated between Sl.52 and $l.55
until May, after which it gradually de
clined until June, whenit touched at Sl.40
and remained steady until the middle of
August, when it advanced to Sl.45 and
$I.5O, remaining At these figures until Dc
tober LIST, when under the pressure of the
panic, small parcel of ordinary oil was
sold st 81, but upon the return of an
easier money market in November, sales
were made at $I.S9 to SI.42, and in Deem
Der st $3.50 with good demand and clos,
ing firm st this price.
The demand for whale oil seems to be
affected by the large supply of other
cheap oils, such as Menhaden. Cotton
Seed and Petroleum which is unprecedent-
edly low. The home consumption was
about 5000 bbls. less than in 1872, while .
The average price was lower. There has .
been very little life to the market, the .
cheap oils, such as humpback and south .
sea, seem TO be preferred st the lower .
prices which they can be bought at, Arc
&c OF good quality being neglected in
consequence, the rule seeming to be that
he poorest oil is sought after, because of
he low prices, A demand sprung up at
be close of the year for the cheaper oils,
south sea, and coast, for ex-
'ort, so cents per gallon being paid for
II qualities, in or out Of bond, and the
sme price was offered for the poorest
Arctic oil, but nc sales were made. The
ear opened at 6S cents for Arctic and =
ents tor humpback, the market being
teady until June, when 6s cents per gal
on was the quoted price for Arctic, at
bout which the market ruled the rest Of
he year. The price of humpbsck ranged
rom SIS to 60 cents per gallon during the
ear for manufacturing. The stock of this
ind Of oil on hand January LIST, 1874, was
bout 1900 bbls The export the past
ear was $3.50 bbls against 500 in 1872.
Whslebone opened at $i.l5, currency,
nth a good demand, which continued in
. February and March, with a slight re- I
uction to Sl.l0, currency, ruling at this
rice until May, when the demand was
cod at $l.os to SLIP, currency, for Arc :
C, and s5 cents for south sea- During
le summer months the demand was good. I
lies reaching in August 81 900 lbs, when |
he price advanced from $I.os to $l.2O,
Irrency, for the remainder of the year !
le demand was light, and the prices re-
eded to $l.lo, currency, for old, and 81 {
,,- A-nsin The b,r,a norerr,r,,,, - {