Transcribe Edwards, Vinal N. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1879-10-28)

The skulls you offer $2.50 each. They cost 1.50 on the beach some will not sell them for less than 2.50 for they wish to get the oil out of the lower Jaws. But I will get these at the price you offer if you wish. There is a Factory on the Cape where they buy the whole fish and grind it up and get the oil and the meat and bones go for guano so that The fish now sell for 3 times as much as they did 4 years ago When I was getting them for Prof Baird. Then I could buy a good size fish with blubber on for 5 to 6 dollars now they sell with blubber on from 18 to 24 dollars. The last caught on the