85 



here by which the fish offal was all lost, as it forms an ex- 

 cellent manure, which, by a process shown in the Exhi- 

 bition, might, I believe, be made still more valuable. The 

 result of the experience obtained at the Menhaden Fishery, 

 detailed by Professor Brown Goode, is instructive, as 

 showing the extent to which fish offal may be advan- 

 tageously utilised.* 



The use of larger boats necessitates increased harbour 

 accommodation, and this is at present the great want of 

 fishermen all along our coast. How it is to be supplied is 

 too large a question for me fully to /discuss in this Paper. 

 There can be no doubt, especially after the experience we 

 have had in this Exhibition, of the demand on the part of 

 the public for an abundant supply of cheap fresh fish ; I 

 am not, however, aware to what extent the community is 

 willing to be taxed for the construction of better harbours 

 to facilitate a supply of food so universally appreciated, but 

 without better harbours I believe it will be impossible for 



* "In 1878 the Menhaden, Oil and Guano Industry employed capital 

 to the amount of 2,350,000 dollars, 3,337 men, 64 steamers, 279 sailing 

 vessels, and consumed 777,000,000 of fish. There were 56 factories, 

 which produced 1,392,644 gallons of oil, valued at 450,000 dollars, and 

 55,154 tons of crude guano, valued at 600,000 dollars ; this was a poor 

 year. In 1874, the number of gallons produced was 3,373,000; in 

 1875, 2,681,000 ; in 1876, 2,992,000 ; in 1877, 2,427,000. In 1878, the 

 total value of manufactured products was 1,050,000 dollars ; in 1874, 

 this was 1,809,000 dollars; in 1875, 1,582,000 dollars; in 1876, 

 1,671,000 dollars ; in 1877, 1,608,000 dollars ; it should be stated that 

 in these reports only four-fifths of the whole number of factories are 

 included. The refuse of the oil factory supplies a material of much 

 value for manures. As a base for nitrogen it enters largely into the 

 composition of most of the manufactured fertilisers. The amount of 

 nitrogen derived from this source in 1875 was estimated to be 

 equivalent to that contained in 60,000,000 Ibs. of Peruvian guano, the 

 gold value of which would not have been far from 1,920,000 dollars." 

 Professor Brown Gcode's Paper at International Fisheries Exhibition. 



