36 



in this manner, inasmuch as most of the starfish are landed in sizable cities, 

 such as New Haven and Milford, Conn., and Providence, R. I. 



Because of the rapidity with which starfish decompose, it is the general 

 practice for those taken in control operations to be shoveled overboard before 

 reaching port. The suggestion was made that if these starfish could be treated 

 so as to delay decomposition, sufficient quantities might be accumulated to justify 

 hauling the material some distance to farms where it could be used as fertilizer. 

 In this way, small and scattered amounts of starfish could be utilized when and 

 where landed, largely eliminating adverse factors of cost of transportation and 

 irregularity of supply which practically prohibit the use of starfish as raw material 

 in fish meal drying plants. 



EXPERIMENTAL 



In the early days of the menhaden oil industry, sulfuric acid was often used 

 to delay decomposition of the press cake until enough had accumulated to operate 

 the driers. For this purpose, 3 to 5 percent sulfuric acid by weight gave the 

 desired result. The suggestion was made that a similar small amount of acid might 

 be equally effective on starfish. 



Therefore, a field trial was planned, using freshly caught starfish handled 

 in a manner similar to that necessary in any practical adaptation of the process. 

 Various quantities and concentrations of sulfuric acid were used to determine the 

 optimum conditions for the desired effect. 



Preliminary tests in the laboratory had shown that the starfish could with- 

 stand fairly concentrated acid without rapid structural breakdown. For greater 

 safety in handling, the first tests were carried out with dilute acid. 



Concentrated sulfuric acid was siphoned into a quart measure and added to an 

 amount of water in a stoneware crock, which would give the desired dilution. This 



TYPICAL STARFISH BOAT, OPERATING IN LONG ISLAND SOUND, EQUIPPED WITH MOPS 



