A New Food Mammal 



345 



shaved strips were used as horsewhips. 

 When simply dried, the skin was as 

 hard as wood, and dried and twisted 

 strips of the skin afforded serviceable 

 walking-sticks. It is said that native 

 shields which were covered with mana- 

 tee skin were ]^roof against musket 

 bullets. 



The thick layer of blubber which 

 surrounds the entire body furnishes an 

 oil which is also of much value. It is 

 proclaimed as equal therapeutically to 

 cod liver oil, and is, in addition, odor- 

 less and practically tasteless and con- 

 tains no iodine. It is clear, limpid and 

 cleanly, and old writers often remark 

 that it never "rusts" or becomes 

 rancid. 



Because of the unusual density, 

 shape and size of the bones, they would 

 make a good substitute for ivory. 

 They take a high polish without crack- 

 ing, and have no central cavity. Since 

 there are few small bones, the vertebral 

 column and heavy ribs supporting the 

 entire body, practically the entire osse- 

 ous portion of the body would be 

 available. 



With good veal, bacon, ham, beef, 

 chops and other similar meats now re- 

 tailing at an average of 50 cents a 

 pound, with 85% of the animal avail- 

 able as saleable meat, the economic 

 worth of an animal weighing possibly 

 half a ton and as well constructed for 

 the cutting of saleable meat as is the 

 manatee is easily seen. Although under 

 modern packing house conditions abso- 

 lutely nothing is wasted, it seems prob- 

 able that the manatee would be more 

 economically handled in the abattoir 

 than are many other animals now being 

 used. 



The natural food of the manatee is 

 commonly known as manatee grass, 

 technically C-ymodocea manatorum. It 

 grows in the rivers of Florida in enorm- 

 ous quantities, with stems often four 



feet long, lying dormant in winter, but 

 in summer almost filling the river. It 

 is easily pulled up with a rake with 

 strong teeth, and a man can gather a 

 boatload of it in an hour or two. The 

 following table^ compares manatee 

 grass with other kinds of hay in com- 

 mon use: 



Man- 

 atee A I- Tim- Cow 

 grass fa If a Clover othy pea 

 % % % % % 

 Moisture... 8.7 8.4 15.3 13.2 10.7 



Ash 12.9 7.4 6.2 4.4 7.5 



Ether ex- 

 tract 2.1 2.2 Z.2, 2.5 2.2 



Protein 16.6 14.3 12.3 5.9 16.6 



Crude fiber. 19.6 25.0 24.8 29.0 20.1 

 Nitrogen free 



extract. .. 40.0 42.7 38.1 45.0 42.2 



Iron(Fe203). 2.46 



It may be seen by comparing the 

 analyses of the manatee grass and cow 

 pea that the two are almost identical 

 chemically. The manatee grass might 

 be called an aquatic cow pea. Such a 

 promising plant should receive further 

 investigation regarding the cost of 

 cultivation and the area already oc- 

 cupied by it. Dr. Alsberg states that 

 the amount of iron in the manatee grass 

 is remarkable. The plant is so soft 

 and tender that little tufts of it can be 

 easily twisted to pieces with the hands. 



In sum, the manatee can probably 

 be reared easily in the warm, shallow 

 waters of the Southern states, which 

 are now unproductive. A manatee will 

 apparently furnish as much meat as a 

 steer, will possibly increase as rapidly, 

 can be easily cared for, and may in- 

 volve less expense. Manatee breeding 

 as a commercial enterprise in the lakes, 

 inlets and rivers where the climate is 

 warm enough, looks like a feasible, 

 profitable and useful undertaking. 

 Animal breeders should take it up, and 

 should be encouraged by some suitable 

 governmental action. 



3 The analysis of Cymodocea is that made by the Federal Bureau of Chemistry, through Dr. 

 Carl L. Alsberg, and that of alfalfa from Farmers' Bulletin 339, by J. M. Westgate. 



