ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 119 



of British Commerce," says the aggregate weight of herrings 

 caught each season has been estimated to average 500,000 

 tons in weight. In the Compendium of the United States 

 Census of 1850, the annual product of the Massachusetts 

 fisheries is set down at 215,170 quintals of codfish ; 236,468 

 barrels of mackerel; 1,250 barrels of herring ; and 187,157 

 barrels of oil and bones. And of the moss-bonkera, which are 

 caught only for mahure, Connecticut is set down as having 

 taken 36,946,000 fish ; and Rhode Island, 187,000 barrels. 

 The number of these caught on the shores of New Jersey 

 has not been estimated; but a friend who has inquired into 

 the matter, informs me that 100,000 barrels could be de- 

 livered, at a single point on the shore, in one season. 



For several years past the price of these fishes, on the 

 shores of Baritan Bay, has ranged from five to eight cents 

 a bushel. The weight of a bushel is about eighty pounds. 



Since the above was written I have received some of 

 these fishes for analysis. They were caught in Raritan 

 Bay, in the latter part of October. The weight of the five 

 fishes sent was 4 pounds 44 ounces. These fishes are a 

 little fatter and heavier at this season than in the summer. 

 Three-quarters of a potind is about their average weight. 

 They were several days on the road ; and Mr. Charles 

 Sears, who sent them, found it necessary to add something 

 to keep them from spoiling; and accordingly added four 

 ounces of sulphuric acid. They were received in good 

 condition. 



The oil was first separated from the fish by adding water 

 to them, as they were received, and boiling until the flesh 

 was reduced to a pulp. The . oil was then skimmed oflP, 



