HIGH GRADE NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER MATERIALS 55 



largest catch was in 1903 when 1,000,000,000 fish were caught.' 

 The whale bone interests, after the bones are removed and the 

 oil extracted from whales, utilize the remainder in the prepara- 

 tion of dry ground fisR. 



Dried ground fish is variable in composition depending upon 

 the nature of the materials of which it is made. The greater the 

 percentage of bone, the higher is the phosphoric acid content and 

 the lower the nitrogen, and the less bone, the higher the nitrogen 

 and the lower the phosphoric acid. The amount of oil left also 

 influences the composition. It usually ranges from 7.5 to 10.5 

 per cent, nitrogen, 5.7 to 16 per cent, phosphoric acid, with an 

 average'of 8.5 per cent, nitrogen and 9 per cent, phosphoric acid. 

 It is a popular and valuable fertilizer and large quantities are 

 used in the North. Most sections of the South are too far away 

 from where it is manufactured to prevent using it at its market 

 value. Dry ground fish is readily decomposed in the soil and is 

 therefore quick acting. It is not considered as valuable as dried 

 blood. 



King crab is obtained on the Atlantic coast and is dried and 

 ground, in which state it is utilized by fertilizer manufacturers. 

 It contains about 10 per cent, nitrogen and is similar to dried 

 ground fish in fertilizer properties. 



Guano, or natural guano, is another important source of ni- 

 trogen. It w^as used as early as the 12th century in Peru. On 

 the west coast of South America there are thousands of sea fowl. 

 These birds have roosting and breeding places along the unin- 

 habited portions of the coast and many of them make their home 

 on the smaller islands oflf the coast of Peru and also on the main- 

 land, because of the abundant supply of fish in that region. The 

 excrement voided by these birds is rich in nitrogen and phosphoric 

 acid because their food, which is fish, is rich in these constit- 

 uents. During breeding seasons they literally cover these is- 

 lands and the young birds after they are hatched are fed on 

 fish until they are able to fly. The excreta from the old 

 and the young birds, feathers, and the remains of the young birds 

 that die, all go to make up guano. As this region is practically 



1 .American Fertilizer. 

 5 



