13 



It is quite probable that this phase of the utilization of starfish will be 

 emphasized in further investigation of starfish now being considered. The study 

 may be simplified by use of the recently developed microbiological methods for 

 the assay of many of the amino acids, and may result in development of a much 

 more profitable outlet for a product from starfish than the meal and fertilizer 

 preparations hitherto studied. 



CONCLUSIONS 



The data on the composition of starfish show that the fresh material will 

 yield about one ton of meal per four tons of raw material. The commercial meal 

 contains about one-half as much protein as the common commercial fish meals, but 

 compares favorably in this respect with meals prepared from crab or lobster scrap, 

 shrimp bran, or meals from mussels or other of the less desirable shellfish. 



The meal is high in calcium carbonate, while potassium and phosphorus are 

 disproportionately low. Starfish oil contains batyl alcohol, and two newly dis- 

 covered sterols with 28 carbon atoms related to campesterol. The protein of star- 

 fish contains some of the essential amino acids and appears to be a more probable 

 source of a valuable extractive than is the oil fraction. 



The use of starfish meal as a protein supplement in rat and chick growth tests 

 and in laying mashes will be reported in a third paper of a series on the utilization 

 of the starfish, Asterias forbesi . 



LITERATURE CITED 



BERGMANN, W. 



1937» Contributions to the study of marine products IV. The sterols of starfish. 

 Jour. Biol. Chem. 117, N <>. 2» 777-81. 



and STANSBUHt, H. A. 



1943. Contributions to the study of marine products XIV. Astrol. Jour. Org. Chem. 8, 



No. 3: 283-4. 



1944. Contributions to the study of marine products XV. The sterols of starfish II. 



Jour. Org. Chem. 3i 28l-9. 



.; SCHEDL, H. P.j and LOW, E. M. 



1945, Contributions to the study of marine products XIX. Cholinasterol. Jour. Org. 



Chem. 10i 589. 



GALTSQFF, P. S. and LOOSANOFT, V. L. 



1939. Natural history and methods of controlling the starfish, Asterias forbesi (TJesor). 

 U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Fisheries, Bull. Jl. 



HINAHD, G. and FILLON, B. 



1921. 9ur la composition chimique des Asterias. Compte Rendu. Acad. Scien. 173s 93^-7* 



HUTCHINSON, G. E.; SETLOW, J. K. ; and BROOKS, J. L. 



1946. Biochemical observations on Asterias forbesi . Bingham Oceanographic Collection, 



Bull. 9s 3-6. 



