136 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The abundance of bones and the oily flavor have given rise to a preju- 

 dice against the menhaden as a food-fish, which the oil factories on the 

 coast have done much to confirm. Still the fish is not unpalatable, and 

 is capable of much valuable service in the capacity of a table-fisb. 



Its use salted. 



186. For many years salted menhaden have been shipped from Glou- 

 cester to the Westlndies and Guiana, to serve as food for the negroes upon 

 the plantations. These fish are not carefully prepared, but are chiefly 

 the surplusage of the bait supply remaining in the hands of outfitters 

 of fishing vessels at the close of the season. They sell for about $2 per 

 barrel. Mr. F. W. Homans ships from 1,500 to 2,000 barrels annually 

 to Surinam. These would weigh from 300,000 to 400,000 pounds, and 

 be worth in the aggregate some three or four thousand dollars. Other 

 individuals doubtless dispose of their refuse stock in the same manner. 



Capt. Moses Pettingell, of Newburyport, informs me that about the 

 year 1840, and before, large quantities were annually salted down in 

 Kewburyport, to supply a regular market in the West Indies. Salted 

 menhaden were found to meet with a readier sale than salted mackerel, 

 since, while little inferior in quality, when well prepared, they could be 

 sold at a much lower price. 



In the " Topography and History of Wareham," 1815, it is stated that 

 the inhabitants of Wareham and Plymouth were accustomed to vote to 

 allow a certiiiu number of barrels of alewives to be taken annually 

 from the brooks within town limits, and that "menhaden were also 

 taken in quantity at Wareham and barreled for exportation in former 

 years.'" * 



It is stated by the editor of Forest and Stream t that some Brooklyn 

 j)eople have a patented process for extracting the bones and superflu- 

 ous oil from the menhaden or moss-bunkers, hitherto useless as food, 

 and then salting the fish, which they claim are fully equal to No. 3 

 mackerel. Thus all parts are utilized. 



Salt mackerel at times replaced hy menhaden. 



187. The inspection returns of Massachusetts show a curious relation 

 between the annual returns of salted menhaden, alewives, shad, and 

 mackerel. An examination of the table given in Appendix G shows 

 that an effort was made during the season of scarcity in the mackerel 

 fisheries to supply the demand by the use of menhaden. 



The question of drawback on salt. 



188. Capt. Fitz J. Babson, cdllector of customs for the port of 

 Gloucester, states that the question yearly comes up as to whether the 

 menhaden fishermen are entitled to privileges under the law granting 



* Collections | of the | Massachusetts | Historical Society | j vol. iv. | ol' the 



eecond series. | Boston : | printed MDCCCXVI | : p. 284. 

 t Vol. II, 1874, p. 215. 



