PRICES CURRENT IN BOSTON. We give below the prices at Boston, December 31, the two years past: STATISTICS OF THE WHALE FISHERY FOR 1862. When, one year ago, we presented our eighteenth annual statement of the whale fishery of the United States, the future prospects of the whaling business looked dark and ominous. In the imagination of many, and in the judgment of not a few, whaling, as a business, had-to use a phrase more expressive than it is elegant-" about played out;" whaleships would, before long, be reckoned among the things that once were; and capital that owed its existence, with its rapid increase, and really massive growth, to the daring skill of the harpoon and lance, could no longer be profitably employed, if indeed it could be made to hold its own, by adventuring it in the same pursuits upon the ocean. A few were however less disposed to look on the dark side; and though they might seem to be hoping against hope, and believing against evidence, yet had the heart to hope and to keep hoping, and the courage to believe and keep believing, that somewhat of previous prosperity would yet return, the whaling fleet yet meet with good luck, full cargoes yet be brought home, oil and bone yet be in demand, and whaling yet again become a satisfactory and remunerating business. The hopings and believings of those few have been in a good degree, if not in quite a great measure reached and realized; and we congratulate them and the entire whaling community, at the beginning of this our nineteenth annual statement, upon the better time that has already come, and upon the lighter day that seems to be already dawning. We found our congratulations mainly upon these facts, viz.: the reduction that has been made in those immense stocks of oil and bone, which, in latter years, have proved to be so profitless and burdensome; the great advance in the prices of both sperm and whale oil that have taken place; and the almost fabulous market price at which bone stands to-day. True, there exists a special reason for the present high prices of oils and bone, viz. the disturbed condition of the finances of the country because of the rebellion, and the consequent premium on gold, together with the advanced rates of exchange. Still it may be considered, as if taken for granted, that as long as this special reason shall exist, just so long will the present high prices continue to rule. The chief obstacles that are now in the way are, most of them, in consequence of the war that the nation is prosecuting. They show themselves mainly in the greatly increased prices of those articles which are essential to the most economical outfit. Southern pine heading can with exceeding difficulty be obtained at any price. The cost of Northern pine is much more than it was before the war. The same, too, is true of hoops, tar, rosin, cordage; and especially true of sail-duck. Also there will be great difficulty in securing for the business as good and suitable ships as many that have been sold out of the business the past year. Also the rates of insurance must necessarily be high and burdensome because of the larger risk on account of the war. EXPORTS FROM UNITED STATES OF SPERM OIL, WHALE OIL, AND WHALEBOne. IMPORTATIONS OF SPERM OIL, WHALE OIL, AND WHALEBONE INTO THE UNITED STATES IN 1862. Sperm.. bbls. 55,641 | Whale.. bbls. 100,478 | Bone....lbs. 763,500 Stock of oil and bone on hand on the first of January in the last six years: Comparative statement of the tonnage of vessels employed in the whale fishery in the United States, January 1, 1862, and January 1, 1863, with a list of vessels added, withdrawn, and lost from the several ports since January 1, 1862: NEW BEDFORD. January 1, 1862, 259 ships and barks, 1 sch... . . . ..ton 86,971 1,158 Deduct. Withdrawn, lost, condemned, etc.-Ships Abraham Barker 400, Cambria 362, Chandler Price 441, Benjamin Tucker 349, Empire 403, Gideon Howland 379, Good Return 376, Hiawatha 381, Hibernia 551, Jeanette 340, Julian 356, Junior 378, Joseph Meigs 356, Levi Starbuck 376, Lancaster 383, Montreal 543, Marcia 315, Montezuma, 436, Magnolia 341, Oneida 420, Seconet 400, Thomas Nye 461, William Wirt 387; barks Afton 249, Alto 236, Braganza 470, Cleora 263, Dominga 230, Eben Dodge 221, Elisha Dunbar 257, Franklin 273, Hope 186, Helen Mar 367, Huntress 383, John A. Parker 342, Millinoket 180, Morning Light 361, Montgomery 248, Pamelia 300, R. L. Barstow 203, San Francisco 268, Silver Cloud 451, Virginia 346; schooner Palmyra 100.. January 1, 1863, 219 ships and barks, 1 sch. ton....... TRADE OF BALTIMORE FOR 1862. 88,129 15,068 73,061 For the following list of imports and exports at Baltimore the past two years we are indebted to the Baltimore Price Current: COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE IMPORTS DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS. |