REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 35 
The higher grades of tankage, with a guaranteed protein content 
of 60 per cent, are used extensively for feeds, and command as much 
as $100 per ton or more in carload lots. The supply of this material 
is inadequate. Experiments, conducted by the Department of Agri- 
culture, indicate that fish meal is fully the equal of tankage as a feed. 
As to demand, it has been estimated that Nebraska alone can use 
30,000 to 40,000 tons annually. In the United States, there are 
grown each year 60,000,000 or more hogs, each of which will require 
an average of not less than 50 pounds of a feed of this character. 
From the evidence at hand it would appear that satisfactory markets 
are assured. 
On the west coast and in New England the production of fish meal 
is increasing. In 1917 the reported output in the Pacific Coast 
States and Alaska was 5,297 tons, an increase of more than 100 per 
cent over the previous year. Considering the demand and the im- 
portance of this product to the country, it is imperative that those 
engaged in the fisheries render all possible aid to meet the demand. 
The subject of rendering fish oils suitable for edible purposes is 
also receiving more attention. In 1914 Denmark used 20,000 barrels 
of hardened whale fat in the margarin industry, and more recently 
Norway has been experimenting with this article and is preparing 
to employ it for the same purpose. It is reported that this product 
has been proved to be well suited for making margarin that keeps 
well and tastes well, and to be even better suited for making lard. 
Experiments are in progress in the United States with fish oils to 
determine the practicability of rendering these suitable for edible 
purposes and marketing them commercially. 
The Bureau has continued its efforts to accomplish a more complete 
utilization of fish waste to the best possible advantage. The impor- 
tance of doing this has been brought directly to the attention of those 
engaged in the industry, and many inquirers in this country and 
abroad have been furnished with data relative to methods, ma- 
chinery, and markets. On the Atlantic seaboard the Bureau has 
interested menhaden companies in the production of fish meal. In 
this field it has had the cooperation of the Bureau of Animal In- 
dustry of the Department of Agriculture in bringing the use of this 
product to the attention of hog growers, in giving suggestions relative 
to preparing the product so that it will be acceptable for feeding 
purposes, and in arranging for additional feeding experiments at 
various agricultural experiment stations. Tangible results have al- 
ready been obtained, and it is expected that ultimately this fishery 
will yield annually about 40,000 tons of this material. The Bureau’s 
efforts to establish fisheries for grayfish and other species of sharks 
has been of benefit to the fish-oil industry in that those engaging 
in these fisheries have been interested to recover and market the 
liver oil. 
HOME CANNING OF FISH. 
Although the preservation of fish in the home by canning affords 
an excellent opportunity for the increased saving of fish, the house- 
wife has made little use of this method. With the development of 
small pressure cookers, purchasable at reasonable cost, it is possible 
for the housewife to process fish in the home, duplicating the work 
