488 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



To this end an extensive outfit of vessels and nets was obtained and 

 a force of men employed. The* location, however, proved to be unfavor- 

 able, and after five years' trial the fishery project was abandoned. At 

 this point, however, there was little difficulty in procuring the necessary 

 supply of fish-scrap from the oil-works on Narragansett Bay and Long 

 Island Sound. 



About 1866 the supply of guano on Rowland's Island having become 

 nearly exhausted, its place was gradually supplied by the phosphate of 

 lime brought from Swan Island, and two years later by the South Caro- 

 lina phosphates. 



The use of the bird-guano, from which the company originally took 

 its name, has been entirely discontinued, though for some years it was 

 the custom to add a small percentage of that substance. The mineral 

 phosphates are found to supply its place very satisfactorily. 



The company has two factories : that at Wood's HoU and another 

 near Charleston, S. C. The capacity of the latter is about two-thirds of 

 the former, although the working force is about the same. That at 

 Wood's Hole, which may be considered a representative establishment, 

 is situated on Long ISTeck, alx)at half a mile northwest of the village. 

 The factory buildings are very extensive, covering nearly two acres of 

 land, and are used exclusively in the manufacture of the guano, and 

 sulphuric acid used in its development, and for storing the raw mate- 

 rials. 



A gang of about 85 men is employed, one-third of whom are engaged 

 in loading and unloading wharf- work, one-third in manufacture, and 

 one-third in packing for shipment. At one time as many as 125 men 

 were employed, but the introduction of labor-saving machinery has ren- 

 dered a considerable reduction of the force practicable, while at the 

 same time the working capacity of the factory has been largely increased. 



A steam-engine of 120 horse-power is used ; also two small hoisting- 

 engines for loading and discharging cargoes. The ingredients of manu- 

 facture are few and simple, viz: fish-scrap, mineral phosphate of lime, 

 sulphuric acid, and incidentally kainit, and sometimes common salt. 



The average annual purchase of scrap amounts to not far from 10,000 

 tons. It is stored in bulk in great wooden sheds, and is sometimes 

 retained a loug time before it can bo used. At the time of writing, 

 August 16, 1875, a large quantity remains over from the previous year. 

 The store-houses cover an area of 16,610 square feet, and the scrap is 

 stowed to the depth of 15 feet, giving a storage space of ]59,600 cubic 

 feet.* 



The mineral phosphate is obtained chiefly from South Carolina, from 



*In a letter of October 8, 1877, Mr. A. F. Crowell states: "In our business here we 

 consumed for the year 1S75-'7G, 708 tous dry scrap (menhadeu), value $20,164; 2,338 

 tons crude scrap, value $31,682 ; producing 13,010 tons soluble Pacific guano ; 1876-77, 

 2,176 tons dry scrap, value $57,784; 5,188 tons crude scrap, value $32,248; producing 

 11,398 tous soluble Pacific guano. Our works at Charleston usually consume one-third 

 less than here." 



