126 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



140 pounds of phosphoric acid, or 300 pounds of actual 

 plant food, which is worth in the form of fine-ground scraps 

 at least thirty-five dollars. 



Following out this line of calculation, let us see how much 

 available plant food has been taken from the sea for the past 

 two decades, or practically before prohibitory legislation was 

 enacted by several of the Atlantic States. The only reliable 

 data that we have extend back for eighteen years, or since 

 the organization of the Menhaden Oil and Guano Associa- 

 tion, which is composed of fifty-three concerns, and which 

 employs one hundred and twenty-seven steam and sail ves- 

 sels. These data, which are taken from the records of this.. 

 Association, are condensed in the following table : — 



TABLE 



Showing Amount of Plant Food taken from the Sea m Eighteen Years. 



Note. — Since the above table was presented at the meeting at Spencer, there has 

 been some criticism of it, audi will state just liow it was luade up. The amount of dry 



