204 The National Geographic Magazine 



Discharging Menhaden from Vessel by Means of Tubs 



The taking of menhaden on the Atlantic coast of the United States for conversion into oil 

 and fertilizer gives employment to thousands of men and to several million dollars of capital. 

 The menhaden belongs to the Clupeidce or herring family, and is about the size of the common 

 herring of the New England coast, but somewhat deeper and more robust. It is not considered 

 a food-fish and is rarely eaten, owing to the abundance of bones, although the flavor is not 

 unpleasant. However, it is one of the most important of all of the species on the coast, being 

 the principal source of bait during the summer, in addition to its use in the manufacture of oil 

 and fertilizer. The menhaden occurs all along the Atlantic coast of the United States from 

 Maine to Texas, and most abundantly between Cape Cod and Cape Henry, except that during 

 certain years it seeks the coast of Maine in enormous quantities. It appears on the approach of 

 warm weather, ranging from March and April in Chesapeake Bay to May and June on the 

 Maine coast, and remains until late in autumn. Its bathymetrical range extends from the inland 

 limits of salt water to the Gulf Stream, but probably 95 per cent of the catch is made within 

 two miles of the coastal line. It is captured principally by means of purse seines, operated from 

 steam vessels with carrying capacity for several hundred thousand fish. The annual catch 

 averages 500,000,000 fish, amounting to 30 per cent of the total catch of fish in the United States. 

 In 1902 it reached 900,000,000. 



ments along these lines were recently 

 inaugurated at Lynnhaven, Va., under 

 the immediate direction of Dr H. F. 

 Moore, of the Bureau. A small cove 

 was selected where the bottom and the 

 salinity of the water were favorable, 

 but where diatoms were scarce. Com- 



mercial fertilizers of certain kinds were 

 used to furnish food for the diatoms, and 

 it was very soon found that the latter 

 greatly increased in abundance, and lean 

 oysters transferred to this cove fattened 

 rapidly. Details of the process need 

 not be given here, but it is believed that 



