THE FISH-GUANO BUSINESS. 



331 



Abstract from the Report of the United-States Menhaden Oil 

 and Guano Association, Jan. 15, 1879. 



Amount of capital invested in 1878 . 

 Number of factories in oi:)eration in 1878 

 Number 5f sail-vessels employed in 1878 

 Niimber of steamers employed in 1878 

 Number of men employed in 1878 . 



Number of fish caught in 1877 

 Number of fish caught in 1878 

 Number of barrels in 1877 

 Number of barrels in 1878 



Number of gallons oil made in 1877 . 

 Number of gallons of oil made in 1878 ^ 

 Number of tons crude guano made in 1877 

 Nimiber of tons crude guano made in 1878 



Number of tons guano dried in 1877 

 Number of tons guano dried in 1878 " 

 Number of tons guano held by the manufac- 

 turers Jan. 15, 1879 .... 



$2,350,000 



56 



279 



64 



3,337 



587,624,125 



767,779,250 



1,958,747 



2,559,264 



2,426,589 



3,809,233 



55,444 



83,719 



5,700 

 19,377 



885 



Navassa Phosphate. 



(Specimen sent on for examination.) 



Per cent. 



Moisture lost at 100° C 5.60 



Phosphoric acid . . . . . . .34.45 



Calcium oxide 37.22 



Ferric oxide 11.79 



Sand, &c. ......... 



Valuation per ton of two thousand pounds : — 



689 pounds, at 3.5 cents per poxmd $24 12 



The value and character of this rich phosphate in fertil- 

 izers have been discussed in previous reports. But little of 

 the ground material is used at present with us: it enters 

 largely into the manufacture of superphosphates for the gen- 

 eral market. Renewed attempts will most likely be made 

 during the coming season to introduce the Orchilla guano in 

 the New-England States, judging from information received. 

 The friable nature and peculiar pulverulent condition of this 

 phosphate fit it better for direct application, without any pre- 

 vious chemical treatment, than the above-described material. 



1 In 1878 the yield of oil per thousand fish was 4 8-10 gallons. 



2 Dried from the ahove-stated crude guano. 



