1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 43 



packed, than of any other species of this family. In 1832, 1730 

 barrels were inspected : 1833, 2,266 : 1834, 4,320 : 1835, 5,600 : 

 1836, 5,000. 



At Watertown, the average quantity of alevvives for the last ten 

 years, is 700 barrels. They are first pickled, then salted and bar- 

 relled, and sent to the West India Islands. They sell for $1.50 to 

 $2.00 per barrel. At Taunton, which for years was so celebrated 

 for its fisliery, the alewives are gradually lessening. There are two 

 or more dams across the Taunton "Great River," so called, which 

 impedes their progress very much ; and on the " Little River," 

 where many dams and factories have been erected ; and where, 

 twenty years ago thousands were taken, not one is to be seen. 

 Twenty-five years since they were taken in such abundance, that 

 they sold for 20 cents per hundred, and a great business was carried 

 on by barrelling and shipping them to the West India market. 



The Alosa menhaden — Pauhagen — Hardhead or Menhaden, 

 is also a very useful fish. In the summer season, it is taken in large 

 quantities upon our coast, and used for mackerel bait, manure, and 

 is also becoming an article of commerce. For the former purpose, 

 it is worth from $2 to $4 per barrel, in proportion to the demand. 

 At Lynn, in 1836, 1500 barrels were used for bait for other fishes, 

 and as many more were thrown upon the land. At Provincetown, 

 they are used only for mackerel bait. At Sandwich, where they 

 are very abundant, the inhabitants strew them upon their lands by 

 the cart-load ; and thus for miles, immense quantities enrich the 

 soil. It is computed that a single menhaden of ordinary size is 

 equal in richness to a shovel-full of barn-yard manure. It is getting 

 likewise to be thought worthy of preservation as an article of food. 

 In 1832, 300 bbls. were inspected ; in 1833, 480; 1834, 1008; 

 1835, 1443; 1836, 1488. 



The C/upcrt harengus{}) — common herring[?) — is in some seasons 

 taken in great numbeis. The quantities of herring packed and inspect- 

 ed according to tables kept at the General Inspection office for the 

 last five years, are as follows: 1832,52 bbls.; 1833,36; 1834, 

 518; 1835, 963; 1836, 77. That a small quantity only of the 

 herring taken, are packed, is obvious, from the fact, that in 1836, 



