FISH-SCRAP FERTILIZES 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 
1889 
SO. 20 
.21 
.22 
.255 
.30 
.33 
.21 
.19 
.18 
.18 
.225 
.225 
.25 
.26 
.26 
.22 
.21 
.17 
.24 
SO. 32 
.32 
1864 ! 
1865 
1890 
.30 
1866 
1891 
.30 
1867 
1-S92 
.38 
1868 
1893 
.40 
1869 
1894 
.33 
1870 
1895 
.25 
1871 
1896 
.23 
1872 
1897 
.25 
1873 
]898 
.24 
1874 
1S99 
.27 
1875 
1900 
.27 
1876 
1901 
.30 
1877 
1902 
.29 
1878 
1903 
.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 
