reduction process where cooking, pressing, 

 separation of press liquors, and drying of 

 pressed fish flesh are the principal operations. 

 Removal of fish oil from the press liquors is 

 accomplished by centrifugation or, in some 

 older plants, by gravity separation. When 

 concentrated to a level of 50 percent solids, 

 the remaining press liquors become con- 

 densed fish solubles. Processing methods are 

 geared to volume production for maximum 

 economic returns to the manufacturer, thus 

 making small-scale processing unprofitable. 



Menhaden fish meal is used almost 

 exclusively as a component of commercial 

 feeds for poultry and swine. The 60 percent 

 protein content of most meals permits effi- 

 cient high-protein, low-fiber diets. In addi- 

 tion, fish meals are good sources of vitamins 

 and some minerals, and other as yet unknown 

 growth factors. Condensed menhaden solu- 

 bles are utilized in much the same manner as 

 fish meal and used as a growth supplement 

 to the meal. 



Menhaden fish oil formerly was used 

 in large quantities in the manufacture of 

 paints, varnishes, linoleums, inks, soaps, and 

 many other products. In recent years, how- 

 ever, the chemical industry has developed 

 numerous synthetic substitutes for fish oil, 

 so that former markets have decreased to 



relatively minor importance. The majority of 

 menhaden oil is now exported to Europe 

 where it is hydrogenated and used in manu- 

 facturing margarine. 



Formerly, domestic markets for fish meal 

 and solubles and foreign markets for fish oil 

 provided a fair financial return to the indus- 

 try. In recent years, however, imports, com- 

 petition from lower priced vegetable and 

 land animal meals, and increased production 

 have seriously affected the seemingly healthy 

 economic condition of this industry. Euro- 

 pean demand for fish oil is now reduced 

 because of the increased availability of for- 

 eign produced fish and vegetable oils and 

 heavy exports of U. S. produced soy beans 

 and vegetable oils. Domestic consumption of 

 fish meal and solubles has not increased suf- 

 ficiently to compensate for the record quan- 

 tity of meal that is available because of high 

 domestic production and large quantities 

 available for export to world markets. The 

 principal exporting nations are Peru, Angola, 

 South Africa, Canada, Japan, and Norway. 



Fluctuations in supply of raw material 

 continue to plague the menhaden industry. 

 Of principal importance, however, is the 

 need to develop new menhaden products and 

 to expand present market outlets. 



THE HERRING FISHERY 



The sea herring is one of the oldest 

 organized fisheries of the world and pres- 

 ently ranks first in world wide landings. 

 These landings amount to approximately 

 11.6 billion pounds (FAO— 1961), of which 

 the U. S. share usually amounts to less than 

 300 million pounds, or about 3 percent of 

 the world's total. The greatest portion of the 

 U. S. landings, 152 million pounds, comes 

 from Maine waters. 



In comparison with other North Atlan- 

 tic fisheries, sea herring rank eighth in value 



and second in tonnage. The herring fishery 

 resembles the menhaden fishery in that, 

 unlike the other principal food fisheries of 

 this Region, both herring and menhaden are 

 harvested in large quantities with much less 

 gear and manpower than are needed for the 

 other principal food species in this Region 

 (i.e., haddock, ocean perch, scup, flounders, 

 whiting, and cod) . 



The herring fishery is seasonal and uti- 

 lizes the young herring as "sardines." The 

 present fishery is confined almost exclusively 



