MAINE SAEDINE INDUSTRY. 27 



to soften, and some water had collected. A sample of this water' 

 weighing 2 pounds, was taken at the end of 20 hours and also at the 

 end of 24 hours. At the end of 24 hours the fish and water had an odor 

 of decomposition, particularly the water, which had not been pumped 

 off during transit. Unfortunately, some of the water had leaked out 

 of the hogshead during the night, but the amount pumped off, to- 

 gether with an estimate of that lost through leaking, made approxi- 

 mately 50 pounds of water collected from this quantity of fish standing 

 24 hours. 



The figures in Table 10 show plainly the rate of decomposition. 

 The viscera and contents deteriorated somewhat during the 4- to 

 the 6-hour period. At the end of the 20-hour period the content 

 of total volatile nitrogen was just double that found at the end of 

 the 6-hour period. Some decomposition was also evident in the 

 flesh of the eviscerated fish at the end of the 6-hour period, while at 

 the end of the 20-hour period marked decomposition had occurred. 

 In the analysis of the viscera and contents and of the flesh, samples 

 taken from the bottom of the hogshead showed more decomposition 

 than samples collected from the top of the hogshead. These results 

 indicate that the viscera and contents deteriorate more rapidly than 

 the flesh of the fish, and that no very marked deterioration in the flesh 

 occurs during the five hours of transportation. Subsequent bacterio- 

 logical studies showed that the flesh of the fish was sterile or, at most, ' 

 contained but few bacteria. Bacteria were very frequently found in 

 the contents of the viscera. Decomposition would naturally occur 

 in the viscera and contents before penetrating to the flesh. 



Five tubs of fish, weighing 628 pounds, were used in the second lot. 

 The tubs of fish were allowed to drain thoroughly before being 

 weighed; consequently but little water was present. After allowing 

 the fish to stand in the hogshead for a few minutes, l£ buckets, 

 weighing 25 pounds, of water were pumped off. The fish were 

 brought to the laboratory after a 2-hour run and sampled every 

 two hours, up to and including 12 hours, during the day while lying 

 at the wharf. A sample was. also taken the next morning at the 

 end of 24 hours. After standing for 6 hours the water was pumped 

 off and found to weigh 24 pounds. At the end of 12 hours an addi- 

 tional 9 \ pounds of water was pumped off. After standing over 

 night, or at the end of 24 hours, 7\ additional pounds of water had 

 formed. The total amount of water obtained in 24 hours was 40.6 

 pounds. The water pumped off during the first 6 hours had but a 

 slight color; at the end of the next 6-hour interval it was blood red; 

 and at the end of the next 12-hour interval it was decidedly bloody. 

 Both the 12- and 24-hour specimens precipitated a quantity of pro- 

 tein from test portions. 



