HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENUADEN. 219 



Fish refuse and hinds of fertilizers made therefrom. 



290. It is of interest for lis to consider bere the "scrap" or pomace 

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



The lish-refuse enters our markets in several diflerent conditions. 

 The following have come under my observation : 



1. ^' Crude s/ocA," " green scrap,''' " chum,''^ or crude pomace. 



2. ^^Ealf dry scrap " or half dry pomace. 



3. "i)rj/ scrap '' or dried fish. 



4. "Z)y_j/ ground fish-scrap,^'' dry ground fish or ^'^ fish guano^ 



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

 cial processes. 



G. Acidulated fish. 



7. ^ 'Fish and potash salts. ^^ 



S. Fish mixed icitli superphosphates in the form of ^'ammoniated" super- 

 phosphates, sometimes culled guanos. 



1^0. 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 during the drying. This is often accom- 

 panied by considerable loss of nitrogen in the form of ammonia. Large 

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

 l)omace," 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. 



No. 4 is prepared by grinding the dried scrap. It makes a reasonably 

 tine, dry, quick acting, and excellent fertilizer. 



The green scrap or crude guano generally contains 55 to CO 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 of fish yield 1 ton (33 per cent.) of half dry scrap. 



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



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

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

 685 pounds. 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 667 pounds (3,000 to the ton). 



"6,000 to 7,000 fish make 1 ton of 'green scrap' from the press. 

 The last I weighed took 6,700 for a ton. Green scrap contains 55 to 

 65 per cent, of moisture. 



