Lapas attēli
PDF
ePub

Statistics of the fisheries of the United States in 1880-Continued.

[blocks in formation]

Statistics of the fisheries of the United States in 1880—Continued.

[blocks in formation]

TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOSTON FISH BUreau, January, 1885.

REPORT.

OFFICE OF BOSTON FISH BUREAU,
Boston, January 1, 1885.

The year which has just closed has proved one of general depression in all lines of trade; and when to this is added an unprecedented yield in all food products, a low range of values has been the rule. Fish and the fish trade has proved no exception. While to the producers or fishermen and those interested with them this has been productive of greater or less losses, still the distributors or dealers may be said to have enjoyed a fairly successful season. Working generally on low values the quantities moved have been large, and business in this line has been done with a fair share of profit. Low prices have encouraged consumption, which has taken off stocks as they have been placed on the markets, and with but few exceptions stocks are well reduced and fairly in hand for the coming season.

Beginning with large and successful Southern herring fisheries, we have had it fol- 、 lowed by the most successful mackerel and codfish fisheries, as regards yield or product, that have ever been recorded. While the foregoing is true as pertains to the work of our New England fishermen, and in some lines to those of Nova Scotia, the Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador fisheries may be considered as partial failures.

In some lines the yield has been far below an average, but in the general heavy catch or production these shortages have been more than made up.

Mackerel.-The fleet engaged in this pursuit fitted and started at the usual time, and for a time the early catch was a fairly paying one.

The quality of the early caught fish was but ordinary and the size medium and small; the general run of the mackerel taken by our New England fleet was small, not more than one-quarter, at any time, being of good size; when in connection with this is taken the fact of one of the largest catches of mackerel ever known, it is not to be wondered at that prices should soon reach a point at which the fishermen were unable to find any profit in the business for themselves or those interested with them. This run of small fish appears to have extended along the Nova Scotia shores, the only points yielding large and fat fish being Prince Edward Island and bay fisheries. Notwithstanding the enormous yield of the fishery, prices have been well maintained and stocks are well reduced.

First sales of uninspected salt mackerel were at $10 for large and $4 for small per barrel, selling in June at $2.50, $5, and $6.50 without barrel for small, medium, and large; July $3.50 to $4 for mediums without barrel, and $7 to $7.50 for large; August, $3.75 to $5 cargo sales; September, $3 to $4 cargo sales; October, $3 to $4 cargo sales; November, 3's $3.25, 2's $7.12 to $8, 1's $15 to $16 in fares; December, 3's $3.50 to $3.75, 2's $8.50, 1's $15 in fares. The catch on the Nova Scotia shores and Prince Edward Island has been much smaller than that of last year; first receipts from the island were on August 2, fish of good size, selling at $11. The general run of the fish from the island has been fair in size and they have ruled from $8 to $12 for unculled; $8 to $11.50 for No. 3's; $10 to $14 for No. 2's; and $13 to $17 for No. 1's during the No stock has been carried over.

season.

Nova Scotia mackerel have been more like those taken by our own fishermen, as regards size and condition; but few fat mackerel from this source; large 3's have ruled from $6.50 to $8.50 during the season.

Codfish. In this article we have to note a large yield, and consequently low prices have been the rule for the season. With a yield of 1,001,303 quintals of codfish alone, it might reasonably be expected that prices should seek a level with those of other food products in which the yield has been large.

At the beginning of the year prices ranged at $3.50 for large dry Bank and $3 for medium; $3.25 for large pickle-cured and $2.50 for medium per quintal, but at the close the same grades of fish were selling at $2.50 for large dry and $2 for medium; $2 for large pickle-cured and $2 for medium per quintal, which is below the cost of production. While the yield of codfish has been so heavy, that of hake has been much below an average, and but for the low prices ruling for codfish, their value would be much enhanced; they have been ruling during the season at $1.75 to $2.50 per quintal.

With a small catch of hake, that of pollock has increased. These fish have ranged from $2 to $3 for slack salted, $1.25 to $1.874 for heavy salted per quintal.

Owing to the low prices ruling, the consumption of dry fish has been largely increased.

Re

Herring. The early Southern fisheries were fairly successful, which, to a certain extent, has curtailed the outlet for many of the cheaper grades of pickled herrings from this way. The catch on our shores has been comparatively a light one. ceipts of Georges Bay and Dalhousie have been about the average, while that of the large Nova Scotia shore splits has run short; the catch of Labradors has been almost a total failure; but 2,000 barrels received this year, as against upward of 25,000 barrels a year since.

Salmon and trout.—The catch of these articles has been fully up to the average; prices have sympathized with other lines and have ruled low, showing some little improvement at the close, and but little stock is being carried over.

Price on salmon has ruled from $10 to $13 for Northern and $11 to $12 for California mess; $9.50 to $13 for trout.

Box herring.-The receipts in this line, 793,244 boxes, have been way above the average for our market. Prices have ruled low and stock has been kept well reduced. Bloaters. Supplies have been large, generally of good quality, ranging from 35 cents to $1.25 per box.

Haddies. This article of food appears to be steadily growing in favor with consumers, and the supply has been taken up readily as placed on the market, ranging from 4 to 6 cents per pound.

Canned fish. In this connection may be taken such goods as American sardines, an article rapidly taking its place along with mackerel, salmon, etc., as a staple with the trade.

Sardines.-Owing to the general low range of prices, this article has suffered also, and prices have been reduced to a point that has rendered it unprofitable for the packers. Still the pack has reached upward of 175,000 cases, mostly one-fourth oils. Price has ranged from $4.62 to $5.75 per case.

Canned mackerel.-In connection with this article, it is to be regretted that the packing in past seasons of poor goods should have tended to curtail the demand for what is one of the finest articles of canned food. The low prices now ruling, 70 to 75 cents per dozen, together with the improved quality of the goods, will reinstate it in public favor.

Canned lobsters.-The supply of this article has been light and prices have ranged from $1.40 per dozen at the opening to $1.85 at the close of the season.

The Washington ten-year treaty.—The Washington ten-year fishing treaty expires on July 1, 1885. We hope that some arrangement will be made by Congress, if possible, which will be agreeable to all parties interested and affected. The duty on imported fish products from July 1, at least until some action is taken upon same, will be as follows: Mackerel, 1 cent a pound; herring, pickled or salted, one-half cent per pound; salmon, pickled, 1 cent per pound: other fish pickled in barrels, 1 cent per pound. Foreign-caught fish imported, not in barrels or half barrels, whether fresh, smoked, dried, salted, or pickled, not especially enumerated or provided for in this act, 50 cents per 100 pounds. Anchovies and sardines packed in oil or otherwise in tin boxes, measuring not more than 5 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 3 inches deep, 10 cents per whole box; in half boxes, measuring not more than 5 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 1ğ deep, 5 cents each; in quarter boxes, measuring not more than 4 inches long, 34 inches wide, and 14 deep, 2 cents each; when imported in any other form, 40 per cent ad valorem. Fish preserved in oil, except anchovies and sardines, 30 per cent ad valorem. Salmon and all other fish prepared or preserved, and

Fish.

prepared meats of all kinds not especially enumerated or provided for in this act, 25 per cent ad valorem. Oils, cod-liver, crude or refined seal, whale and fish oils, not elsewhere specified, 25 per cent.

It is easy for us at the close of the year to look back and see where we have made our mistakes, and miscalculated the contingencies of trade; at the same time it is well for us to study what we have been through and to lay out for the future line of action that which will enable us to avoid the mistakes of the past, and to build for the future, for ourselves and our city, a business which shall be enduring and profitable.

We can still point with pride to the fact that Boston still holds her proper place in the van as a distributer of the enormous yield of our fisheries.

In closing our report we hereby return thanks to our many correspondents and friends for the assistance which they have so freely given us in the past, and which we trust we shall continue to receive in the future. We return the result of the year's business with our best wishes.

[blocks in formation]

Fish received by Boston dealers from foreign and domestic ports, 1884.

January. February.

March.

April.

May.

June.

[blocks in formation]

Mackerel

.barrels..

Mackerel, Boston fleet,

inspected. .....barrels..

26 2,104 824 5,948 3,964 1,313 1,695

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Herrings:

[blocks in formation]

.do....
38 655 683 998 337 1,300
..do.... 2, 281 737 2,892 2,112 4, 471
80 11
408 100 198

[blocks in formation]

Trout..

.do....

8

[blocks in formation]

.quintals.. 10, 773 2, 11117, 030 3,261 12, 299 9,229 5, 173 1,428 2,207

224 2,718 2,595

[blocks in formation]

56

.do..

282

[blocks in formation]

.do...

148

[blocks in formation]

.barrels.. 6,554 3, 37211, 637 10, 128 5,545 9,330 5,737 10, 852 5, 541 4,641 2,930 2,972

[blocks in formation]

Herrings, smoked.boxes.. 14, 820 13, 098 42, 504 57, 685 46, 225 58, 136 27, 293 23, 480 31, 415 36, 942 49, 435 61, 470 Bloaters, smoked.....do...

2, 834 1,368 8,489 1,116 2,668 1,209

92

1,649

[blocks in formation]

Codfish ......quintals.. 6,614 5,250 3, 429 11,323, 6, 444 858

733

3,667
5,708
2,437
1,152
9,900 26, 267 22, 906 16, 791
500 1,900 815 614

1,482 37 797
200

2,964

22

[merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

804 4,806 12, 509 4,168 330 1,150 310 292 401 386 496 126 402 77

80

96 382

938

78

395

182

1The above includes 581 barrels smoked alewives received during April, May, and June.

[blocks in formation]

Fish received by Boston dealers from foreign and domestic ports, 1884-Continued.

[blocks in formation]
« iepriekšējāTurpināt »