[27] fisheries of the united states. 1057 



Fish-skinning knives. 



Steel blades, single edge, hook-bill tips : 5| to 7 inches long ; rough, 

 white-pine handles. Gloucester, Mass., 1S80-'S2. 54,688-93, 

 57,692. U. S. Fish Commission. This class of knives is exclu- 

 sive^ used at Gloucester and other places in extracting bones 

 and cutting off fins in the preparation of " boneless " salt fish. 

 Some of them are much worn by use, and the handles are en- 

 crusted with a lime deposit caused by the dissolving of salt im 

 the moisture of the operator's hand. 



CUSK-BONINO KNIFE.* 



Steel blade, short and stout ; square tip. Pine handle, covered 1 

 with lime caused by the dissolving of salt in the operator's; 

 hand. Length: blade, 2 inclies; handle, 5 inches. Glouces- 

 ter, Mass., 1882. 54,3-13. U. S. Fish Commission. This knife- 

 was in constant use for eighteen months in extracting bones 

 in the preparation of u boneless salt cusk." The bones of this, 

 fish are much tougher than those of cod, and a greater press- 

 ure is required to cut them than can be obtained by the use of 

 a longer blade. 



Boneless-fish compressor. 



Eod of iron, two feet long, with hoe-shaped piece at end. Serpen- 

 tine handle with lever. Claw-hook to fit on side of box.. 

 Gloucester, Mass., 1883. 57,855. U. S. Fish Commission- 

 Used in packing "compressed" boneless fish. 



Sisal spun-yarn. 



Forty lines, each composed of two strands, and being 60 feet im 

 length, the whole twisted into a loosely laid rope. Gloucester,, 

 Mass., 1883. 57,856. U. S. Fish Commission. Used for tying 

 up bundles of dry salt cod fish, &c, for which purpose the^ 

 lines are cut in sections of suitable length. 



Fish boxes. 



Samples in great variety of box-ends branded. Used in manufact- 

 ure of boxes for boneless fish. Gloucester, Mass. U. S. Fish 

 Commission. 



Boxes for boneless fish. 



Paper boxes, two pound and three-pound. Boston, Mass. Potter 

 & Wrightington. 



* For list of splitting-knives, throating and flitching knives, used in the prepara- 

 tion of dry and smoked fish, see Catalogue of Fishery Apparatus used in Capture, 



2444— Bull. 27 67 



