PEARL ESSENCE 21 



scales to the manufacturers. The ahlette are scaled by hand by low- 



Ericed labor. The scales are then put in a large container of salt 

 rine of about 10 to 15 per cent concentration and moved about in 

 such a way as to wet all the scales. The brine is then drained off 

 and the scales are put into muslin bags and squeezed to free them as. 

 far as possible of the brine. They are then compressed tightly in 

 barrels, kegs^ or metal cans. In this condition they will keep for 

 some time, or for several weeks in storage at about 32° F. Several 

 shipments of Eastport herring scales have gone to Europe in cool 

 storage. The scales are not allowed to dry but are kept moist with 

 the brine in the sealed containers. 



AMERICAN SOURCES OF PEARL ESSENCE 



The principal sources of American pearl essence at present are the 

 sardine herring {Clwpea harengus) at Eastport, Me., where there are 

 two factories operatmg on herring scales obtained from the sardine 

 canneries and boats. Scales accumulate in the bottom of the boats 

 and are collected and sent to the factories; also, the water used to 

 flume the fish into the canneries, containing much of the lustrous 

 guanin, is caused to run into settling tanks. The sediment is col- 

 lected and transported to the essence factory, where it is manufac- 

 tured into finished essence. The price has ranged from 4 to 14 cents 

 per pound for the scales. A considerable quantity is manufactured 

 at Hyannis, Mass., from the scales of the glut herring or alewife 

 (Pomolohus pseudoharengus) , and there is some manufacture in New 

 York from materials shipped in from various points. 



At Reedville, Va., there is a manufacture in the short spring 

 season from the scales of the glut herring {Pomolohus sestivalis) , and 

 also the branch herring (P. pseudohareiigus) , as well as from the shad 

 (Alosa sapidissima) and hickory shad (P. mediocris) . The scales are 

 understood to bring 10 cents per pound, 20 pounds of scales being 

 produced by 1,000 alewives. As 1,000 alewives average 633 pounds 

 m weight, about 3 per cent of the weight of the fish is in available 

 scales. 



The California sardine or pilchard (Sardina cserulea) is a potential 

 source of supply, though it is impracticable to collect the scales 

 under the present methods of handling the fish there. The silver 

 carp {Carpiodes velifer) of the Mississippi Valley has been found by 

 the writer to produce a large quantity oi lustrous substance, but it is 

 not a very abundant species. The gizzard shad {Dorosoma cepedi- 

 anum) , of fresh-water streams of Florida and elsewhere, is a moder- 

 ately abundant fish and produces the essence. Among the other 

 American species that might be considered potential sources of the 

 essence are the ladyfish {Alhula vulpes), whitefish and cisco 

 (Coregonus) of the Great Lakes, the Pacific coast salmons, Alaska her- 

 ring, southern mullet (Mugil cepjialus), and perhaps also the shiner 

 {Aoramis crysoleucas) . The writer has made pearl essence of good 

 quality from the menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) , the fish caught in 

 great quantities off the Atlantic coast and used for the manufacture 

 of fish meal, fertilizer, and oil. 



53897— 25t 2 



