HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 441 



manufactured it is in a much better condition for use, and can be applied 

 more evenly to the land and in much smaller quantities to the crops 

 without danger of burning. This is the greatest source of supply this 

 country affords for a manure rich in ammonia, and it is worth more to 

 this country than tlie islands that furnish us with Peruvian guano. In 

 the season of 1873 tbere were landed in the cities of Charleston, S. C, 

 and Savannah, Ga., alone 85,0C0 tons of superphosphate, nearly all of it 

 having fish-scrap as its base. 



5G. The oil is used mostly hy tanners and curriers ; it is also used 

 for outside painting. 



57. Prices ranged in 1873 from GO cents in April to 40 cents in Au- 

 gust; then to 40 and 48 cents in September; then the panic burst upon 

 the country and brought business to a stand-still. , Prices for a few past 

 years have ranged from 45 to GO cents. 



58. It is not possible nor in the i)Ower of man, with all the modern 

 improvements at his command, to materially diminish their numbers. 



On the shores of Connecticut 88,200,000 fish, producing 8,820 tons of 

 scrap, valued at $1G per ton in bulk at the factory, were caught, and 

 309,900 gallons of oil were made, bringing 45 cents per gallon. On the 

 shores of Long Island 82,700,000 fish, producing 8,270 tons scrap, at $1G 

 per ton, were caught, and 291,200 gallons of oil were made, bringing 

 45 cents per gallon. 



The above is a correct statement, as near as possible, of all the fish, 

 caught on the shores of Connecticut and Long Island during the sea- 

 son of 1872. Comparison with the previous year shows a decrease in 

 the catch of fish of some 70,000,000, which would make, at the average 

 yield of oil this year, 245,000 gallons, and about 7,000 tons of scrap. 

 The decrease in the catch is readily explained : there were some six or 

 eight manufacturers less than in 1871, some having stopped business 

 on account of threats of lawsuits by malicious persons, who attempted 

 to break up every honorable and profitable business. 



Notwithstanding the decrease in catch of fish there were more seen 

 in the waters, and those who persisted in catching from the beginning 

 to the end of the season caught more than they did the previous year; 

 in fact, fish were never more plentiful. It would seem, from the great 

 quantity caught from year to year, that whitefish would soon be ex- 

 tinct ; but it is a surprising fact that for the past few years they have 

 been steadily increasing in numbers. 



47. Statement of W. S. Havens, Collector of Customs, Sag Harbor, N. Y., 



January 1, 1875. 



1. Menhaden. 



2. More than all other kinds together. 



3. No apparent change. 

 5. Not perceptibly. 



