330 HISTORY AND METHODS OP THE FISHERIES. 



ber, and from Cape Hatteras in January. They are found farther south in greater or less abundance 

 throughout the entire year. Not enough is known of the movements or habits of these fish to 

 determine the winter home of the great schools that summer along the New England and more 

 southern shores, but one of the most plausible theories at present advanced is that they remain in 

 temperate stratas of ocean waters known to exist under the Gulf Stream and between it and the 

 American coast. 



As the menhaden appear in early spring in Chesapeake Bay and farther north they increase 

 rapidly in abundance until in some places the water is almost alive with them. They prefer the 

 shallow places along shore, and in some years crowd in great numbers into the brackish sounds 

 and inlets and ascend some of the larger rivers for a long distance, until the water becomes too 

 fresh for them. They are accustomed to swim in immense schools with their heads close to the 

 surface, packed side by side, and often tier above tier, almost as closely as sardines in a box. 



The commercial importance of the menhaden has but lately come into appreciation. Thirty 

 years ago, and before, it was thought to be of very little value. A few millions were taken every 

 year in Massachusetts Bay, Long Island Sound, and the inlets of New Jersey. A small portion of 

 these were used for bait, and a few barrels were salted for home use or for export to the West 

 Indies. Large quantities were plowed into the soil of the farms along the shores and stimulated 

 the crops for a time, but in the end filled the soil with oil, parching it and making it unfit for tilling. 

 Since that time manifold uses have been found for this fish and its products. As a bait-fish it 

 excels all others. For many years much the greater share of our mackerel were caught by its aid, 

 while the cod and halibut fleets use it rather than any other fish when it can be procured. The 

 total consumption of menhaden for bait in 1877 was not less than 80,000 barrels. Ten years before, 

 when the purse-seine was not in general use in the mackerel fishery, the consumption of menhaden 

 bait was very much greater. 



As a food resource the menhaden is thought to have great possibilities, large quantities having 

 been canned under the name of "American sardines" and "Shadines," but the superiority of small 

 herring for canning purposes has led to an abandonment for the present of efforts to introduce 

 menhaden "sardines." An extract of fish, said to possess all the properties of Liebig's " Extract of 

 Beef," was some years ago discovered by Mr. S. L. Goodale, and may open up a vast field for future 

 development. As a food for the domestic animals in the form of " fish meal" there may be a broad 

 opening. 



The great value of the menhaden, however, at present is the oil and scrap produced by cooking 

 and pressing these fish. As a source of oil the menhaden is of more importance than any other 

 marine animal. The annual yield of this oil usually exceeds the production of the American whale 

 fisheries by about 200,000 gallons, and in 1874 did not fall far short of the aggregate of all the 

 whale, seal, and cod oil made in America. 



The number of menhaden taken has, in some years, been considerably more than 1,000,000,000 

 fish. In 1880 the weight of the catch was 576,000,000 pounds, equivalent to about 700,000,000 

 menhaden in number. The quantity of oil produced in 1880 was 2,060,390 gallons, and of guano 

 68,904 tons, having a total value of $2,034,641. The capital invested in steamers and their outfit 

 and in factories was $2,362,841. As compared with previous years, the yield of oil in 1880 was 

 small. In 1874 the number of gallons was 3,373,000; in 1875, 2,681,000; in 1876, 2,992,000 ; in 

 1877, 2,427,000. In 1874 the value of the oil and guano was $1,809,000 j in 1875, $1,582,000; in 

 1876, $1,671,000; in 1877, $1,608,000; in 1878, $1,050,000. 



