﻿FISH-SCRAP FERTILIZER INDUSTRY OF ATLANTIC COAST. 



47 



development in the industry and a consequent overproduction in oil. 

 In the seventies the annual production exceeded 2,000,000 gallons, 

 a figure which it closely has maintained on the average ever since. 

 The annual production since 1873 is given, by years, in Table III, on 

 page 7. 



PRICES. 



The range in prices since 1863 of the various grades of oil is 

 given in the subjoined table. The data for the years 1863 to 1902 

 are taken from the report by Stevenson, previously quoted; those 

 for the following years from the Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter." 



During the past year the oil has varied in price from 23 cents to 

 28 cents per gallon. 



Table XIII. — Statement of the range of prices for crude northern menhaden 

 oil in the New York market from 1863 to 1911, inclusive. 



Year. 



Lowest. 



Highest. 



Year. 



Lowest. 



Highest. 



1863 



SO. 75 

 1.10 

 .80 

 .70 

 .45 

 .50 

 .625 

 .40 

 .35 

 .36 

 .32 

 .35 

 .305 

 .30 

 .30 

 .23 

 .24 

 .29 

 .30 

 .32 

 .35 

 .26 

 .21 

 .20 

 .19 



$1.00 

 1.35 

 1.40 

 1.135 

 .70 

 .95 

 1.025 

 .68 

 .55 

 .65 

 .605 

 .475 

 .485 

 .50 

 .46 

 .45 

 .35 

 .43 

 .395 

 .42 

 .48 

 .475 

 .30 

 .26 

 .21 



1888 



$0.20 

 .21 

 .22 

 .255 

 .30 

 .33 

 .21 

 .19 

 .18 

 .18 

 .225 

 .225 

 .25 

 .26 

 .26 

 .22 

 .21 

 .17 

 .24 



$0.32 



1864 



1889 



.32 



1865 



1890 



.30 



1866 



1891 



.30 



1867 



1«92 



.38 



1868 



1893 



.40 



1869 



1894 



.33 



1870 



1895 '. 



.25 



1871 



1896 



.23 



1872 



1897 



.25 



1873 



1898 



.24 



1874 



1899 



.27 



1875 . 



1900 



.27 



1876 



1901 



.30 



1877 



1902 



.29 



1878 





.27 



1879 



1904 



.25 



1880 



1905 



.21 



1881 



1906 



.26 



1882 



1907 





1883 



1908 



.24 

 .21 



Contract. 

 .23 



.27 



1884 



1909 



.30 



1885 



1910 





1886 



1911 



.28 



1887 











TECHNOLOGY. 



The mixture of oil and water running from the cooked fish in the 

 presses is conducted into the first and uppermost of a set of tanks 

 arranged one somewhat above the other. In this vat the mixture on 

 standing a short time separates into a stratum of oil floating on an 

 aqueous layer. The separation may be assisted by heating the mix- 

 ture. For this purpose steam coils are provided. The oil thence is 

 allowed to flow by a suitable arrangement of weirs successively 

 through the series of receptacles, in which by means of stronger heat- 

 ing by steam it is gradually purified from its contained water and 

 small particles of flesh. The greater part of the fine particles of 

 flesh separate in the first vat, settling to the bottom. This fine mush 

 is known as " gurry," and sometimes is sold to the manufacturers 



