HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 191 



Comparison of yield of nitrogen from Guano Islands. 



200. The refuse products of the oil-factories, together with the fish 

 used iu a crude state for mauure, are estimated to have yielded in 1875 

 over 10,000,000 pouuds of amruouia in the best possible organic forms. 

 This quantity of ammonia is equivalent to at least 60,000,000 pouuds 

 of Chincha Island guano, formerly imported from Peru, the gold value 

 of which would be not far from $1,920,000. 



la addition to ammonia, the phosphate of lime derived from this source 

 and convertible into agricultural products amounted to nearly 1,430,000 

 pounds, which is the equivalent of nearly 60,000,000 pounds of Peru- 

 vian guano. 



Associations of oil and guano mauufacturers. 



201. The Association of the Menhaden Oil and Guano Manufacturers 

 of Maine was formed in the year 1870. The objects were such as are 

 usually sought by organizations of the sort — harmony of action on points 

 affecting the common welfare of the business, social acquaintance, and 

 the communication of information as to improved processes, etc. The 

 annual meeting is held the second Tuesday in January of each year. The 

 United States Menhaden Oil and Guano Association was organized in 

 1873. The annual reports of these societies are given in full in Appen- 

 dix L. 



40. THE USES OF MENHADEN OIL AND THE OIL MARKET. 



The uses of menhaden oil. 



202. The uses of menhaden oil are manifold. It is chiefly employed 

 as a substitute for the more costly and popular oils and to adulterate 

 them. It is sold largely to tanneries for currying leather. After the 

 hide has been "dressed," i. e., after its coarser fleshy parts have been 

 pared ofP, the oil, mixed with tallow, is applied. This is technically 

 cnlled "stuffing," and results in qualifying any residue of alkali left from 

 the "liming" process, and in filling the pores, and softening the leather. 

 Mr. L. C. d'Homergue states that this oil is largely used in the tan- 

 neries of Russia. 



A considerable quantity is used as a burning oil iu coal-mines to fill 

 the small lamps, one of which is fastened to the cap of each miner. It 

 is then mixed with parafBne or some of the heavier oils. Some is also 

 sold to be used in the manufacture of rope. A small quantity is used 

 annually for lubricating purposes, but, on account of its gummy nature, 

 it is not much in favor among machinists.* It is used in adulterating 

 linseed oil, and is also sold as a substitute, its cheapness and durability 



*Mr. Isaac Bow, of Springfield, Mass., devoted several years to experimenting, with 

 a view to the preparation of a good lubricating oil from menhaden oil, but his success 

 was not satisfactory. 



