HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 219 



Fish refuse and linds of fertilizers 7nade therefrom. 



290. It is of interest for us to consider here the "scrap" or pomace 

 left from the manufacture of the oil, aud its uses. 



The fish-refuse enters our markets in several difierent conditions. 

 The following liave come under my observation : 



1. '■'Crude stoclc,''^ " green scrap,^' " chum,''^ or crude pomace. 



2. ^'Ralf dnj scrap '' or half dry pomace. 



3. ^'- Dry scrap " or dried fish. 



4. '■'■Dry ground fi.sh-scrap,''^ dry ground fish or '■'• fish guano." 



5. Fish guano from ichich the most of the fat has been extracted by spe- 

 cial processes. 



6. Acid u lated fish. 



7. '•'Fish and potash salts.'''' 



8. Fish mixed icith superphosphates in the form of ^^ammoniated^^ super- 

 phosphates, sometimes called guanos. 



iso. 1 is the raw material as it comes from the press. 



No. 2 is the form it assumes after partial drying-. More or less fer- 

 mentation is apt to take place duriug the drying. This is often accom- 

 l)auied by considerable loss of nitrogen in the form of ammonia. Large 

 quantities of this " half dry scrap," "half dry pomace," or "fish 

 pomace," as it is variously called, are used by farmers along the coast 

 -where menhaden are taken. 



No. 3 is the coarse scrap dried by the sun's heat or artificially. This 

 also is used in large quantities by farmers near the coast. 



Ko. 4 is prepared by grinding the dried scrap. It makes a reasonably 

 fine, dry, quick acting, and excellent fertilizer. 



The green scrap or crude guano generally contains 55 to 60 per cent, 

 of water. The half-dry scrap contains 40 to 50 per cent, of water. The 

 dry guano contains 10 to 20 per cent, of water. 



The following measurements and estimates are said to be in use among 

 menhaden manufacturers : 



1 ton (2,000 pounds) is reckoned the weight of 3,000 fish. 



2^ tons of fish yield 1 ton (40 per cent.) of green scrap, chum, or crude 

 pomace. 



3 tons offish yield 1 ton (33 per cent.) of half dry scrap. 



5 tons offish yield 1 ton (20 per cent.) of dry scrap or guano. 



One thousand menhaden, weighed by Mr. Dudley, president of the 

 Quinuipiac Fertilizer Company, at Pine Island, June 12, 1877, weighed 

 685 i)ounds. Mr. Dudley has kindly furnished the following statements: 



" We take them from the fishermen at so much per thousand, reck- 

 oning 22 cubic inches per fish. One thousand fish, measuring 22,000 

 cubic inches, weighs C07 pounds (3,000 to the ton). 



"0,000 to 7,000 fish make 1 ton of 'green scrap' from the press. 

 The last I weighed took C,700 for a ton. Green scrap contains 55 to 

 65 per cent, of moisture. 



