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employed in the whale fishery in the United States, January 1, 1862, and January 1, 1863, with a list of vessels added, withdrawn, and lost from the several ports since January 1, 1862: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 Added-Ship Brunswick 195, barks Hudson 368, Oriole 404, schooner Dolphin 91....

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 Withdrawn, lost, condemned, etc.-Ships Abraham Barker 400, Cambria 362, Chandler Price 441, Benjamin Tucker 349, Empire 403, Gideon Howland 379, Good Return 376,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, Panelia 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.

COMPARATIVE TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES EXPORTED TO FOREIGN PORTS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

ANNUAL REPORt of rob't wilLIAMS & SON, BROKERS, BOSTON.

The import of saltpetre into this market the past year, is less than of the preceding year by 11,104 bags; and into the United States by 12,360

bags. The article, early in January, was rather quiet, with small sales at 12 @ 13c. per lb. Towards the close of this month accounts were received of the removal of the prohibition to the export of the article from Great Britain, and the market closed dull at 11 @ 114c. per lb. On the 21st day of February we received advices that the prohibition of the export of the article from India took effect there on the 3d of January, and that not only was the export prohibited, but that all the saltpetre on shipboard was ordered to be relanded. Owing to this interruption of the trade, and the consequent prospect of small supplies, large sales were made to manufacturers at 114 @ 124c. per lb. cash, and the article closed firm, with an upward tendency. In March and April the article was rather quiet, and prices were somewhat lower. In May moderate sales were made at 11c. cash, to 13c. 6 mos.; and the market closed firm, the prospect of largely increased duties causing holders to show but little. disposition to sell, except at advanced rates. About the 15th of June, some 10,000 bags, mostly to arrive in New York, were taken quietly by the government; this caused some demand for speculation, and considerable sales were made here, and to arrive, at full rates. The uncertainty in regard to the new tariff, the high rates of exchange, and the reduced stocks, caused much firmness in the article. Our stock, at the end of this month, was about 2,000 bags, and holders, to arrive, refused to sell except for cash in bond." Early in July, the passage of the new tariff, making the duty 2c. per lb. on all saltpetre that arrived after 1st August, was announced, and the market continued firm through the month, with fair sales at full prices. In August we had a good demand, and the sales were large at 13 @ 134c. cash, and a prize cargo of superior, by order of the United States Marshall, at equal to 15c. per lb. cash. On the 28th of August our stock was reduced to 900 bags, the lowest point for the year; but four cargoes arrived at once after this, and our stock, on the 1st September, was 6,400 bags. In September the sales were liberal, at 13c. cash, and continued at about this rate until the 15th October, when the extreme rates for exchange, say 45 per cent, and of demand notes, and the greatly diminished shipments from India, caused more firmness, and the article was in favor with manufacturers and speculators, and prices gradually advanced, and on the 1st of November were fully 15c. per lb. cash, and at this rate large sales were made through November. În December the demand was fair, with considerable sales to manufacturers, at 15c. cash. Holders were somewhat firmer on account of the destruction of the ship T. B. Wales, with 1,704 bags, from Calcutta, by the Alabama, and the probable loss of the North Atlantic, with 5,332 bags, and the market closes firm at 15c. per lb. cash.

The imports from Calcutta into the United States, for the year, have

been

In addition to the above, there has been imported from Europe into

Total imports into the United States for 1862.
Total imports into Boston..

89,273

55,222

31,751

2,300

7,855

4,000

1,500

There has also been imported into the Philadelphia market, about 40,000 bags of saltpetre on government account from Europe, and some further lots on same account in New York. The bulk of the stock now in New York is owned in Boston. There has been no demand for export through the year.

There has been several sales of prize cargoes by order of the United States Marshal, through the year, in New York and Philadelphia.

The stock in Boston, at this time, is 7,855 bags, against 8,200 in 1862; 12,000 in 1861; 8,286 in 1860; 17,468 in 1859; 25,260 in 1858; 13,100 in 1857; 8,395 in 1856; 15,144 in 1855.

The quantity on the way, up to the last dates, November 18, from Calcutta, is 29,990 bags. Including the North Atlantic's cargo, referred to above, and the quantity loading at the same time for the United States was 8,744 bags. The large manufacturers have imported heavily through the year, and it is supposed that considerable of that to arrive the new year will be on government account.