THE WHALE FISHERY. ANNUAL RETROSPECT. From the (American) "Whalemen's Shipping List," AVERAGE VOYAGES RECAPITULATIVE TABLE.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 641, 5 June 1852, Page 2

THE WHALE FISHERY. ANNUAL RETROSPECT. From the (American) "Whalemen's Shipping List,"

AVERAGE VOYAGES

RECAPITULATIVE TABLE.

January 6.) We present lo our numerous patrons this morning our annual review of the Whale Fishery for the past year, together with full and complete tables of Imports, Exports, Prices Current, Average Voyages, Slocks, etc., as compared with previous years. These tables are prepared wilh great care, and arc, we confidently believe, to be relied on. Notwithstanding many disasters, a reference o these tables will show that 1851 has been a year of great prosperity lo the trade. The number of arrivals has been very large, and the aggregate of oil imported greater than in any year since 4847, notwithstanding which the prices for all varieties have been well sustained, and the market active. The amount of tonnage employed in the trade has been considerably increased during the last year, in spite of numerous losses in the Arctic Seas. The number of vessels employed in the service at present is as follows — viz. : 588 ships and barques, 57 brigs, and 55 schooners ; being an increase over last year of 56 ships, 5 brigs, and 22 schooners in the trade. The intelligence from the Arctic fleet in 1851 has been of a disastrous character; for in addition to a very considerable loss of shipping, the average catchings have been smaller than in any previous year. This will seriously affect the importations of whale oil in 1852; and from ihe lj l>esl estimate which we can now make the amount during the present year will hardly exceed 400,000 bbls., and may fall considerably below that figure. In addition to this, the accounts from the sperm-whale fishery are not encouraging, and there is a probable prospect that importations, 'during the year to come, will not exceed 65,000 bbls. The general conclusion to which we come is, that the business has been pushed by the enterprise of our merchants, to nearly, if not quite, its utmost limits, unless new grounds are discovered, which does not at present seem probable. SfilJ the prospect of a fair remuneration and return to those now engaged in it, is good, though the policy of extended investments would be vei y doubtful.

243,618 In 1851 the North Pacific fleet consisted of 146 ships, Bof which weie wrecked. Of the leraaining 138 sliips 103 have arrived at the Islands, with an average catch of 611 bairels the season.

Mndp by Sperm and Right Whalers from 184? to 1851, inclusive, with the average time absent, and quantity of Oil biouuht home.

Showing an addition of 06 ships and barks, 3 brigs, 8 schoners, awl an increase in the aggregate tonnage of 22,019 tons.

The following ships arc reported as wrecked in the North Pacific during the year 1851, yii. : Armata, Henry Thompson, Arabella, America (2nd), New Bedford, Houqua, Globe, Acuehnet, Mary Mitchell, Solomon Sallus, Ajax, and Cos* Mopolile. The last two were French ships ; and the Solomon Sallus, of Sydney, N. S. W. '' The American ships mentioned above were all vessels of the first class, fitted in the most substantial manner, and probably sailed at an aggregate cost of 270,000 dollars. The losses are attributed to the incorrectness of the charts of the Northern Seas, unknown currents, ice, and an unusual preAalence of severe gales and foggy weather through the summer of 1851. We are happy to learn that our government, in consequence of these .disasters, have in contemplation to send one or more national vessels into those seas, to explore and mark more correctly the position of the reefs and headlands upon which these vessels have been stranded, and to render aid to such as require it/

States in 185 i 1. Pohtb. II|! l|j New Bedford. 39 5 45,150 Fuirhaven... 13 9,480 Dartmouth .. 1 48 14 Westport 7 2 4,040 Mattapoisett . 3 2 1,747 •R ° a) . &*o *$& 155,71 1 2,349,900 15,383 97,100 1,76? 14,400 2,581 12,000 DistofN.Bed,ll2 10 50,465 Edgartown . . 3 2,874 Nnntucket ..13 2 16,601 Falmouth .... 1 Provincetown 1 24 2,911 Boston 6 6 6,842 Beverly .... 1 250 Lynn 1 135 Warren 1 168 Newpoit.... 2 1,262 Stonington .. 8 1,310 Mystic 6 183 New London 26 2 2,914 Sagbarbor ..4 0 133 Green port .. 7 839 €old Spiing.. 4 217 NewYoik.. 2 3 2,042 Philadelphia. 1 60 Truro 1 175 Oilcans 1 210 175,460 2,473,400 3,840 44,000 33,85 38,000 2,719 24300 229 280 9,300 2,740 28,700 2,789 29,100 1,765 12,200 15,859 125,000 15,757 168,800 67,508 609 000 11,066 67 f '2OO 13,487 115,100 11,591 130,000 42,400 8 total in 1851,197 51 99,501 328,183 3,916,500 Brls. spm. Imports for 1850, 92,892 „ 1849, 100,9 14 „ 18 18, 107/176 „ 1847, 120,753 ; „ 1846, 95,217 : „ 184J, 157,917 ' „ 1814, 139,594 ! „ 1843, 16(3,985 : „ 1842, 165,637 : „ 1841, 159,304 ! Drls. wh. Lbs. bone. 200 603 2,869,200 218.492 2 281,100 280,656 2,003,000 313,150 3,341,680 207.493 2,276,939 277,780 3,167,142 262,047 2,532,445 206,727 2,000,000 161,041 1,b00,000 207,348 2,000,000 Average for 11 years, 128,793 244,434 2,544,364

IMPORTATIONS Of Sperm and Whale Oil and Whalebone into tJe United

32 Sperm whalers 41m 19rf 1292 192 67178 9084 122 Rls^t 33>n Qd 222 2187 27081 2G6820 1 Gie'nland 7m I9rf 727 7*7 31 Atlantic sp. 16m 21d 303 18 9395 562 Sent home fm.out'id bound, wreck'd, &c. 4322 2565 107976 280656

AnnivAis in 1848.

54 Sperm whalers 41m 21d 1284 163 69524 9066 02 Right 32m 9d 209 2271 21355 231631 1 Greenland 7m Mrf 728 728 28 Atlantic Sp. 6m \6d 2! (5 25 6052 697 Sent home fin. out'rd bound, wreck'd,&c. 4013 6090 100944 248202

Ahiuvals in 1849.

STATEMENT Qf the Average Pi ices of Oil and Bone for Eleven Yea>s Sp. Wh. Bone. Average for J8 r >l, 127 1 -4 c. 45 5-1 6 c. 34 \-2c. 1850, 120 7-10 49 1-10 34 4-10 1849, 108 y-10c. .'39 9-10 c. 31 8-lOc 18 Mi, 100 1-2 3d 30 7-8 1847, 87 7-8 So 3-4 3i 1« 16, 88 32 7-8 33 5-8 181.5, 90 i 2 36 \- c 2c 2 40 18 It, 63 34 1 2 35 3-4 1813, 73 33 3-4 23 1 8 12, 91 SI 3-4 19 2-3 1311, 100 30 1 2 19

Sp. Wh. Sp. Wh. 5<2 Spprm whalers 45?n 12rf 1505 219 78287 11416 .50 Ri^ht 31m 7d 195 1978 29309 2957J1 J Greenland 7m Orl 9-JO 910 54 Atlantic Sp. low 9d 228 42 7770 1437 sent home fm.out'rd bound, wreck 'd, &c. 5387 2616 120753 31315

AmuvALs in 1847.

811, 20 ships averaged 1412 barrels— 2»,200 842, 29 .. 1627 .. 47,200 843, 108 .. 1319 .. 146,800 844, 179 .. 1528 .. 259,570 845, 263 .. 951 .. 250,600 .846, 292 .. 809 .. 2,"> 3,800 .847, 177 .. J059 .. 187 413 :848, 159 .. IKJ4 .. 185,256 LB4J), 155 .. 1334 .. W6.MO .850, Hi .. 1G92 .. 243,618 ta

KOftTH PACIFIC FISHERY. Table allowing the number of Ships engaged in the North Pacific Fibhvry for the last ten years, and the average quantity of Oil taken.

Slims and Bmkj. New Bedford 278 Fairliaven 49 Webtport 1 4 Dartmouth 2 Mattapoisett 11 Waiebam 1 Brigs 3 5 1 2 s. sous, lonnagc 1 94,642 1 16,490 5725 62 6 2788 374 c. Dist. of N.Bedford 355 Falmouth 3 Homes Hole 4 Edgartown 8 Nantuoket 52 Provmcelown 2 Truro Orleans Boston 2 Lynn 2 Beverly 1 Salt m 1 Sandwich Warrpn 17 Providence 2 Fall River 2 New port 5 Stbnington 18 Mystic 9 New London 43 Sagharbor 1 7 Gieenpoit 8 Cold Spring 6 New Suffolk 1 11 1 1 6 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 118,645 1,106 1,510 2,877 3 18472 22 3,358 143 1 251 618 720 568 230 1 292 5640 865 555 1883 5,743 1 3,009 5 16,273 5,856 2,749 2,499 227 rotal.Jan. 1, 1852, 558 total, Jan. 1, 1801, 502 27 24 35 193,990 27 171,971 56 3 8 22,019

Vessels Employld in the Whale Fishery, January 1, 1852.

45 Sperm whalers 41m 22rf 1189 115 570.99 5539 8J Right 33m 20<Z 189 2217 15727 183992 1 Greenland 7m \6d 485 415 33 Ailantic Sp. dm Ud 235 14 8917 521 ieHt^omefm. out'rdbouDd, wreck'd, &c 14H9 10071 y'2B9'2 200608

Arrivals in 1830.

53 Sperm whaleis 44m 4d 1170 353 61995 17668 46 Atlantic Sp. \om24d '201 9 9259 431 83 2 season Rt. 3om lbd 130 2619 10901217337 33 1 season Rt. 20m iOd 130 2131 3677 80J39 1 Greenland 8m '20d 158 258 Sent home i'ra. out'rd bound, wreck'd, &c. 1 3759 12556 99591 328483

Arrivals in 1831.

anuary 1, 1850, " 18 W, « 1848, *' 1847, 1846, " 1545, 11 1844, Ships and Baiks. 510 681 621 6,50 678 643 595 Brigs. 20 21 22 31 35 35 41 Schrs. 13 12 16 21 22 17 9 Tonnage, 171,484 196,110 210,663 230,218 233,189 218,65/5 200.147

The number of Vessels and amount of Tonnage employed in the Whale Fishery since 1844, have been as follows : —