32 CONTROL SERIES No. 45 



Raw Products Supplying Nitrogen and Phosphoric Acid. 



Dry Ground Fish. 



Brands Substantially Meeting Their Guarantees 

 AND Free from Adulteration. 



Brands Showing Adulteration with Ammonium Sulfate and Brands 

 H.wiNG a Commercial Shortage of $1 or More per Ton. 



' Five analyses. 



2 Two analyses. 



3 Bona fide dry ground fish usually contains less than .25% of ammoniacal nitrogen (the 

 average of 14 analyses made in this laboratory in 1928 showed .16%). The extent to which the 

 various brands listed in this table have been adulterated by the use of sulfate of ammonia is shown 

 by the figures given under heading "Nitrogen from ammonium sulfate." Most of the firms list- 

 ing the brands showing adulteration claim that the product originally came from Smith-Douglass 

 Co., Norfolk, Va., and was supposed to be bona fide dry ground fish. When the adulteration 

 was called to their attention they allowed rebates for the difference in value as figured from this 

 oflice. These rebates varied from $2.43 to $26.84, and averaged $12.02 per ton. 



Microscopical examination of some of the samples showed the presence of tobacco stems, 

 egg shells, fruit stems, glass, acid phosphate and stick tankage. TUs would indicate that the 

 original fish was bulked with stems and garbage tankage and then standardized with acid phosphate 

 and ammonium sulfate. 



Note: As most of this fish was used as a top dressing on tobacco, the presence of considerable 

 ammonium sulfate would introduce soluble sulfates which might contribute to an inferior burn 

 of the crop. 



* Two analyses. One sample was well up to the guarantee in nitrogen but showed a deficiency 

 of 2.54% in phosphoric acid, as well as adulteration with ammonium sulfate. The other sample 

 was deficient .72% in nitrogen and 2.73% in phosphoric acid and also showed adulteration. 



5 Four analyses. The ammoniacal nitrogen on one sample was .84%; on the other three 

 it was less than .5% ; all three samples, however, showed deficiencies in total nitrogen so that rebates 

 applied in all cases. 



