HISTORY OF THE /MERICAN MENHADEN. 493 



tbe buildings now occupied by tbe company wero pat np. From tbat 

 time their business has steadily increased. In 1871 tbe company began, 

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

 jjhosphates; this was done for tbe purpose of nsing tbe fish scrap im- 

 mediately after the oil bad been expressed, thus avoiding tliat loss of 

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

 still continue tbe process of sobir drying on platforms, finding that it is 

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

 same time using wbat is necessary in tbe manufacture of superpbos- 

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

 bave not found any which are sufticiently capacious to be profitably 

 employed. 



In the manufacture of their superphosphate they use dried and fresh 

 fish-scrap, Nevassa phosphates, pulverized bone, kainit, and sulphuric 

 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 Wes'» 

 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 ceiht. 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 Mamifacturmg Company. 



A New Industry. — The Crowell Chemical Manufacturing Company, 

 at Woods Roll, are now building a large factory tbat is nearly com- 

 pleted for tbe purpose of making fish flour for tbe 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 puri)ose 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 will 

 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. 



