

 34 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



said, exceedingly diverse accounts of its value. The reason of 

 that is, that it is not, ordinarily, pressed very dry, and is put up 

 very carelessly, I have seen piles of it, years ago, when they did 

 not take much care in preserving it, which, in four days after it 

 was taken from the press was as full of worms as it could be. I 

 have seen a great deal sold in the market as fish chum, which did 

 not contain one-tenth part of the value which it ought to have had, 

 simply because it had undergone putrefactive decay, all the nitro- 

 genous matter had been converted into ammonia and escaped into 

 the air, and there was nothing left but a very offensive, but nearly 

 inert mass. 



Now, what ought to be done all along the coast is this : just as 

 soon as that fish refuse comes from the press, it ought to be dried 

 by artificial means. A great deal is taken during the summer 

 mouths, when fogs prevail on the coast for days together, so that, 

 if drying it in the sun is relied upon, a great deal of its virtue 

 will be lost. I have never seen any fish chum in the market, with 

 one single exception, that was not more or less offensive, and it 

 was because it was not .properly dried. The mode of preparation 

 is this : The fish, when taken from the water are either boiled or 

 steamed until the albumen is all coagulated. That permits the 

 expression of the oil together with a large portion of the water 

 which comes from the press. This is allowed to pass off, the oil 

 separates, and afterwards is drawn off separately. The remainder 

 they frequently barrel up at once, and if the weather is cool it will 

 keep for a while without serious injury. Some of it they dry, but 

 in a rough way, on platforms ; sometimes after drying they barrel 

 it up without grinding, and sometimes they grind it before selling. 

 It ought to be dried by artificial heat, as they dry sea-weed ; 

 then it should be ground, and all possible danger to cattle from 

 the bones would be avoided. It can then be used for an}'- cattle 

 except cows giving milk. I do not advise it for them, as I would 

 not advise giving them tur^iips. It would give the milk more or 

 less disagreeable flavor. But it will furnish that which will help 

 make flesh, fat and bone, and that is the greater desideratum 

 generally. The other food to accompany it may be swale, bog 

 .hay, or any common inferior fodder. I do not know why the 

 whole amount of our refuse fish may not be used in this wa}-- ; and 

 so much of it as does not go into bone, muscle and fat, or go to 

 support the evciy day wants of the animal, Avill remain for manure. 

 Then, if you will save all the liquid excrements, by means of proper 



