WHALE FISHERY FOR 1850.
This year was one of great prosperity in the trade. The number of ships returning with full cargoes was large, while prices rose to an unprecedented height. Nevertheless the importations of oil in 1850 will be found to fall short of that of 1849 about 7000 bbls. of sperm, and 48,000 bbls. of whale; and the number of arrivals as compared with the same year, is less by six sperm and nineteen right whalers; yet the stock on hand of each description is about the same as on the 1st Jan. 1850. This discrepancy as regards whale oil, is undoubtedly owing to a diminished consumption, arising from the very high figure at which oil has been held; which has forced many substitutes into the market, and seriously impaired exportations. Under these circumstances it is clear that a small fall in prices would argue anything but a depression in the market.
The number of vessels employed in the fishery was about the same as that of 1849. Of the fleet, 145 cruised in the Russian and Arctic seas with great success. Indeed the average quantity of oil taken was larger than in any previous year.
Importations of Sperm and Whale Oil and Whalebone into the United States in 1850.
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Ports. Ships and barques. Brigs and Schrs. Bbls. Spm. Oil. Bbls. Whale Oil. Lbs. Whalebone. New Bedford . 64
39,298 91,627 1,081,500 Fairhaven . 10
8,812 10,559 477,900 Dartmouth . 1 266 7 Westport . 5 2 3,607 324 Mattapoisset . 3 , 1 2,689 81 Sippican . . . 1 42 1,453 9,300 Wareham . 1 I 84 4 150 2,719 38,100 Dist. N. Bedforc 54,965 106,770 1,606,800 Holmes Hole 3 1,208 4,960 56,800 Edgai-town . 1 2,164 184 1,700 Nantucket . 12 1 17,989 1,328 133,000 Yarmouth . 1 68 13 Provincetown 1 22 3,205 501 • Boston . . 7 1 3,845 786 3,700 Beverly . . 2 368 Truro . . . 4 140 Warren . . 1 1,035 Providence . 2 112 3,368 23,600 Stonington . 1 900 15,226 179,600 Mystic . . 2 251 1,588 8,000
