414 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION, 



break at all. These were all meuhadeu from about 2 to 4 incbes long, 

 with now and theu a big shrimp among them. I found that the whole 

 beach of this island* was as described, as were the shores of Magnolia 

 Island on the north and of Debardue Island on the south. Here, then, 

 are 20 miles with this deposit 150 yards wide from 6 to 18 inches deep, 

 and I am informed that it extends as far north as Little Eiver, 3G miles 

 from here. The most tenable theory to account for this, that I know, 

 is that some eruption has taken place at the bottom of the ocean some- 

 where south of us, throwing into the water sulphurous or other noxious 

 gases, and the southerly winds that prevailed for three weeks previous 

 brought the dead fish to this coast." 



ESTACLISnMENTS FOR UTILIZING- FISH PPtODUCTS. — One of the 



most remarkable of recent developments in the way of making the 

 most and best of the fishing industry is the establishment of the Nor- 

 mal Company, which is now setting up factories at various parts of the 

 coast of Great Britain. In an article describing the enterprise, the 

 Edinburgh Scotsman says: The production of cheap and nutritious 

 food is the principal object of the company, whose factory at Aberdeen, 

 Scotland, in interest and extent, surpasses the famous fish-refuse and 

 oil-making factories of the United States. The work includes the man- 

 ufacture of fish extracts, for which there is a large demand both at 

 home and especially on the continent, of glue, gelatine, and manure, 

 from fish refuse, and the preserving of fish in a body by new and im- 

 proved methods. Fish of all kinds are used, and transformed into ex- 

 tracts, soups, sausages of various kinds, glue, cement, gelatine, albu- 

 men, oils for medicinal and other purposes, leather, guano, and bone- 

 meal. The processes of manufacture are a triumph of scientific skill. 

 The methods of preparation, which are secured by patent, were invented 

 by Mr. C. A. Sahlstrom, as were also many of the machines employed 

 in the manufacture. One extract of meat produced by the company is 

 made exclusively from the flesh of whales and allied marine animals. 

 It takes time to overcome prejudice, but in reality the flesh of the whale 

 resembles that of reindeer, and it is entirely free from smell or any oily 

 flavor. The meat of a large blue whale of 200 tons yields, in round 

 numbers, 5,000 i)ounds of extract, and every pound of extract gives 

 about 100 pints of soup. Other soups are made in variety to suit the 

 palate of the most fastitNous. As an example of what is achieved in 

 turning the so-called "offal •' to account, it need only be mentioned that 

 the flesh of the cod, ling, and other kinds of fish can be used dried or 

 for extract, glue, and guano; the bladder for isinglass; the backbone 

 for glue and bone-meal ; the head for extract, glue, and guano ; the roe 

 for albumen; the liver for oil, extract, and fibrine; and the entrails for 

 glue and guano. The external coverings of the larger kinds can be 

 profitably removed and tanned. They give a strong and good skin, 



* Pawley's Islaud : Mr Taylor was tlie nnlv person living on tlie island dnring the 

 ■wiuter, 



