HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 449 



kettles and skimmed the oil from the kettle ; then there was only about 

 one-half of the oil saved. Since then the business has increased until 

 now an enormous business is carried on. 



54. New York. 



55. Phosphated for the Southern States. 



5G. Used as a lubricating oil and by leather manufacturers; also for 

 paint. 



57. Price in 1873 was about 45 cents a gallon; from 75 cents to $1.10 

 in previous years. 



58. jS^o ; not by any mode that has been practiced. 



52. Staiement of Joseph Wlialexj, Point Judith Light, Point Judith, B. I., 



December 28, 1874. 

 Mr. Baied : 



Sir : 1 have received a circular in regard to the fish known in this 

 vicinity as menhaden. I will answer all questions I can. I did not re- 

 ceive any blank, so I put it on this. 



1. 3Ienhaden. 



2. More plentiful than any other kind. 



3. I think 1 saw more pass here last June than any time since 1862. 



4. Five hundred barrels. 



5. I do not think that it does, as they are as plenty now as ten years 

 ago. 



G. The first fish are seen about the 20th of May ; the main body get 

 along about the middle of June. They pass here to the east from the 

 20th of May to the 1st of July. 



7. They, as a general thing, near the top of the water, and make 

 a ripple or a slick. They do not attract birds, as they do not drive up 

 any small bait or other fish. 



8. From the south and bound north and east. 



9. Very regular sometimes ; if the weather is cold and easterly winds 

 prevail it puts them back ten to fifteen days. 



10. I do not think it does. 



11. Thej' go or move with the tide, or the way the tide is setting. 



12. Kivers and bays, 



13. Sometimes high, and sometimes about halfway to the bottom. I 

 think they prefer water from 10 to 20 feet deep. 



14. They leave here when the water gets too cold. 



15. 1 do not think they do. I cannot tel! the young from the old, as 

 they get their growth in a year. I have seen them shut up for nine 

 months; they have then nearly their length. 



IG. They are seen in large quantities in November ; they are about 2 

 inches long. 



17. They begin to leave in October, and continue to the 15th of De- 

 cember by degrees. 

 29 F 



