118 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



It is taken in large quantities upon various portions of our coast, 

 is used as bait for other fishes, and as manure ; and it is also be- 

 coming an article of commerce. As mackerel bait, it is worth 

 from $2 to $4 per barrel, in proportion to the demand. At 

 Lynn, in 1836, 1500 barrels were used as bait for other fishes, 

 and as many more were thrown upon the land. At Province- 

 town, they are used only for mackerel bait. The fishermen 

 who supply Boston market with cod fish, set their nets about 

 the outer islands in the harbor, each night, as they come up to 

 the city, and examine them in the morning, as they go out for 

 the day's fishing. Large numbers are thus taken ; and such 

 as are not used as bait, are sold to the poorer classes as food, 

 for about 6 1-4 cents per dozen. It is also considered a very 

 good bait for halibut. Being a very oily fish, it is valua- 

 ble as manure. It is computed that a single menhaden of or- 

 dinary size, is equal, in richness, to a shovel-full of barn-yard 

 manure. In some places they are taken for this purpose only, 

 by trailing nets towards the shore. At Sandwich, where they 

 are very abundant, the inhabitants strew them upon their lands 

 by the cart-load ; and thus, for miles, immense quantities en- 

 rich the soil. From the following extract of a letter from my 

 friend Dr. Forsyth, some idea may be formed of the numbers 

 used. His letter is dated November 8th, 1837. " For two or 

 three miles below me, on the Barnstable road, the stench from 

 the decomposing fish was a great nuisance to travellers passing 

 along the road, so much so that I feared they might be instru- 

 mental in the production of disease ; but whether they were so 

 or not, I am not now prepared to say ; but certain it is, there 

 have been more cases of autumnal fever and dysentery this 

 season, in that district, than in all the rest of the town." Upon 

 some portions of Cape Cod, menhaden are sold to the farmers for 

 $1 per thousand for manure ; they average about one pound 

 each, and 2500 are considered a proper quantity for an acre. 

 This species is getting likewise to be thought worthy of pres- 

 ervation as an article of food. In 1832, 300 bbls. were inspect- 

 ed ; in 1833, 4S0 ; 1834, 1008 ; 1835, 1443 ; 1836, 1488. 

 This fish attains the length of fourteen inches. My descrip- 



