The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-26
FISH BONES MADE USEFUL.
a NEW SOURCE or WE1LTH FOR CfPE
ANN'S BUSY CITY.
What has been Ey-sorc r not n Nuisancs
made IA Mine OF Riches-Fishes' skins and
Homes made to Yield Glue and E.inuIass.

made IA Mine OF Riches- Fishes skins and
bones made to Yield Glue and Isipgiass.
GLOUCESTER, Mass, Nov. A.-Until re-
Gently the bones and skins OF FISH have been
mere waste. and 1t was question whit to do
with tho vast accumulations OF them from the
fish that are cured in this great fishing port
Hakc sounds arc largely used for making isin-
Gass-and several factories in tho ncighborinR
town Of Rockport have been engaged for years
in furnishing this articles but 1t Is a very ex.
pcnsive process. and the sounds are worth ut the
factory. before being touched sevent five cents
pound. and are scarce ut that price. Cod livers
are made into medicinal oil. and yield n good
revenue. Tho lvers Of other fish pay handsome
returns for their yield Of oil. which IL used for
currying purposes What fresh FISH heads are
brought In during the winter are eagerly taken
by the farmers for manure. The tongues and
sounds are all saved and picked and are
readily sold. Large quantities OF halibuts'
heads also arc picked for food for the Maine
lumbermen. But what to do with tho skin and
bones was until recently the question.
Mr.; John 5. Rogers of this port. who owned
small farm. and was endeavorng to make the
their natural state. discovered glutinous prop
critics In thom, and IL thereupon occurred to
him int isinglass and glue might be obtained
from them. Accordingly no began a series Of
experiments. and after two years his Efforts
were crowned with success. building has
Glouccster Isinglass and Liquid Glue Manu-
factory Is on successful tide of operation. The
machinery is simple. and works to u charm:
but tho processes arc kept secret Tho corr
respondent OF THE SUN has been permitted to
see the fish skins in their natural state. in the
lower story. and To follow them TO the second
story. where from one set Of machnery came
dripping. the liquid glue. and from another
sheets " amber-coored isinglass one foot in
width and fourteen feet in length.
Another important interest has been devel-
oped-that OF making Of fish skins. hends. and
bones n first class fertilizer A large business
has already been done with porgie gunno, which
IL made of porgie chum. name given to the
refuse OF the porgie after tho oil has been
steamed and pressed from II by hydraulic pres
sure This business has been prosecuted for
several years. and large sales have been made.
me scarcity OF porgies this year has led TO
looking for n substitute. Fish heads. bones,
and fish skins arc used with promise of sue
cess. The process Of manufacture il to cook
the material and then dry II ~ n powder. which
resembles u yellow soil. The basis of all tlrese
comm"rclal fertillzers il ammonia. and this will
average eight per cent Messrs. Stacy d
runner OF Gloucester are about opening fac-
tory. having good IA itirs. porsi' chunl. con-
vcrt"d into powder Is worth from f25 to $50 per
ton. One Eastern firm has n contract for 5000
tons Tor export. at s25 per ton, delivered 20 the
vessel. There are large sales for 1t in the Wes1
indies and throughout the South. with I'm in
crcasing demand.