HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MENHADEN. 385 



58. Not sensibly. 



The inception and growth of this business in the adjoining town of 

 Bristol is coutemjioraneous with Booth Bay. In 1873, the works of that 

 town probably pressed 250,000 barrels of fish, yielding 025,000 gallons 

 of oil. There are about eight works. 



8. Statement of Judson Tarr & Co., Boclcport, Mass., and Booth Bay, Me., 



January 23, 1874. 



1. Menhaden. 



2. Are most numerous of any fish on our coast. 



3. Have increased in the last ten years. 



4. Number of barrels caught in Maine during 1873 was about 400,000, 

 of which we caught 00,000. 



5. The extensive capture does not lessen their abundance. Should 

 say they have increased within five years, but not so abundant inshore. 



0. Menhaden are first heard from in March as far south as Cape 

 Henry. They come on the coast of Maine about June 1, but the main 

 body does not get along until June 20 j they are then constantly coming 

 along until July. 



7. They come in schools and make a ripple on the surface of the 

 water. 



8. They usually follow the shore in coming and going. 



9. They never fail. 



10. Never see any small fish on the coast of Maine. 



17. They leave our coast about October 1. Cold weather drives them 

 south. 



19. Think they go as far south as Florida. 



20. A sort of red seed, floating on the surface. 



21. They spawn South. 



30. The larger fish, such as the whale and shark, are their greatest 

 enemy. The blue-fish destroy great quantities. 



34. They are caught with seines. 



35. One thousand to 1,500 feet long and 100 feet deep. They are 

 called purse-seines, and cost $1,000 each. 



30. Vessels and steamers of from 40 to 100 tons are used in catching 

 them. 



41. Whole number of vessels, 33; 17 of which are steamers. There 

 are about 500 fishermen. 



44. Number of gallons of oil produced by all, 1,000,000; tons of scrap^ 

 12,000. 



50. Yield less than one gallon to the barrel. 



51. They yield most oil in September. 



50. It is used principally for currying purposes. 

 57. Average price of oil, 45 cents per gallon ; scrap, $15 per ton. 

 The phosphate that is made from the scrap is used mostly in the South- 

 25 F 



