The result of the season's fishing was 16 Whales, 494 Walruses, 53 Seals, and 145 Bears, producing 230 tuns of oil and 219 cwt. of bone; in addition to which was the produce of one Whale, 138 Walruses, and 3400 Seals, equal to 60 tuns of oil and 10 cwt. of bone, brought home from the Cumberland Gulf station by the Peterhead brig 'Alert.' No White Whales were killed, owing to the bays in which they are usually beached being blocked with ice.
The present price of oil is £22 per tun, and of size bone £1400 per ton. The Walrus hides vary greatly in value according to quality—i.e. thickness—and the Seal-skins may be taken all round at 3s. each. At this rate the estimated value of the year's produce would be something like £30,000, as against £38,000 in the previous season.
I am informed that, so far as the British whalers are concerned, the Greenland Seas will be left undisturbed in the coming season.
I have to express my thanks to Mr. James Mitchell and Mr. R. Kinnes, of Dundee, for kindly furnishing me with information with regard to the Dundee whaling-fleet; and to Mr. Michael Thorburn, of St. John's, Newfoundland, for like favours from that port.
