HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 493 



the buildings now occupied by tlic company were put up. From that 

 time their business has steadily increased. In 1871 the company bcf?an, 

 in connection with their other enterprises, the manufacture of super- 

 phosphates; this was done for the purpose of using the lish scrap im- 

 mediately after the oil had been expressed, thus avoiding that loss of 

 ammonia which takes place when the pomace is allowed to ferment. They 

 still continue the process of solar drying on platforms, flnding that it is 

 more profitable to prepare in large quantities in this manner, at the 

 same time using what is necessary in the manufacture of superphos- 

 phates. They have tried several machines for artificial drying, but 

 have not found any w^hich are sufficiently capacious to be profitably 

 employed. 



In the manufacture of their superi)hosphate they use dried and fresh 

 fish-scrap, i^evassa phosphates, pulverized bone, kainlt, and sulpbuiic 

 acid. 



They produce annually about 2,000 tons of superphosphates and 3,000 

 to 4,000 tons of other fertilizers, which are widely distributed through 

 the New England and Southern States, and are also sent to the WesV 

 Indies, Santa Cruz, Porto Rico, Cuba, and the Bermudas. 



Their manufactured products are classed by four grades: (1) Pine 

 Island Superphosphate, containing from 4 to 5 per cent, of ammonia, 7 to 

 9 per cent, of phosphoric acid (average), and 2 per cent, of potash ; (2) 

 Pine Island Guano, containing 7 per cent, of ammonia and 7 of phos- 

 phoric acid, which is intended chiefly for tobacco farmers and market- 

 gardners; (3) Quiunipiac dry-ground fish guano, which is sun-dried 

 scrap thoroughly ground; and (4) crude or half-dried scrap.* 



6. The Crowell Chemical Manufacturmg Company. 



A New Industry. — The Crowell Chemical Manufacturing Company^ 

 at Woods Holl, are now building a large factory that is nearly com- 

 pleted for the purpose of making fish flour for the European markets, 

 this flour being a dry, inodorous poudrette for agricultural purposes. 



As soon as the building is completed a large amount of machinery 

 that is ready for the purpose will be placed in order immediately, and 

 then the company will be ready to commence operations. 



They will require twenty tons of fish each day to supply their needs, 

 and as the whole fish is utilized by their process they desire large ones 

 for their business, the bodies being valued in the following order : Black- 

 fish, porpoises, sharks, dog-fish, porgies, and skates, the fish being 

 bought entirely by weight. 



Sharks will be purchased at about the same rates as porgies, as wilt 

 dog fish. The company will employ from one to three steamers to con- 



* These facts were given us by Mr. H. L. Dudley, president of the company, during 

 a visit to Pine Island in October, 1877. — G. B. G. 



