The recent price decline, of course, has meant rising yields.

Analysts said they saw no real reason for the price decline.

The price decline means bondholders lost $10 for every $1,000 of face value.

But consumers have yet to realize much benefit from the price decline.

"We have been in a price decline for years," he said.

They say this is good management and smart protection against a price decline.

A short position provides a way to profit from a price decline.

And a bear market - defined as a price decline of 15 to 20 percent - appeared to be at hand.

In recent months other brokers have put the price decline at 20 to 30 percent.

But clearly a chief reason for the 1990 price decline was the record catch, estimated at more than 28 million pounds.