The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-05-11
j. r. L-IBBY'S
Congress St.

''Shadines," but the superiority of small
herring for canning purposes has led to
practical abandonment of preparing
menhaden "sardines." Its chief value
is as a fertilizer; also is valuable for the
Oil and scrap produced by cooking and
pressing them.
total weight of the catch was SIG, 900, 900
pounds, equivalent to about 7O0,OOO.OOO
menhaden in number. The quantity of
oil produced that year was 2O66, 1896
gallons, and of guano 68,904 tons, having
total value of So, 034, 641. The capital
invested in steamers and their outfit and
in factories was So, 1925 AS compared
with previous years, the yield of oil was
small.
AS soon as the fish make their appear
ance in spring, vessels start in pursuit of
them and continue their capture until
they disappear in the fall. From the
menhaden oil and guano factories along
the southern coast of New England New
York, and New Jersey shores the fleets
of steam and sail vessels begin their
cruises early in May, pursuing the fish
along the shores and in the sounds wher-
ever they can be found. The vessels sell
dom cruise more than 10 or Is miles from
land. The total area of the grounds is
estimated at $3.50 square geographical
miles.
Formerly schooners and sloops were
the only vessels engaged in this fishery,
but steamers are now very generally ern-
ployed, especially on the northern
grounds, though a large fleet of sailing
vessels continue in the business. In
10S0-which was representative year
hoe foot
and 374 sailing vessels, aggregating 12,-
sos. Il tons, and equipped With Gas seine
boats. The value of the feet, including
seines and other outfit, was $1,375 BOA
The average steamer is about 70 tons
measurement, and costs $4,000, is about
80 feet long, II feet beam, u feet depth
of hold, and feet draught aft. The
largest steamers in the feet are more than
$50 feet long; carry from 81 to 80 men;
and cost $50, 900 and upwards. The cost
of running the average steamer is about
81 900 per month for wages, fuel and pro-
visions. They are screw steamers, and
are rugged with one mast forward, which
is fitted with a crane used in taking in
the catch. The quarters for the men are
in the forecastle, under and forward of
the pilot-house. A little forward of
amidships is the main hatch, opening in
to the hold, where the fish are slowed in
bulk. The engine-house is astern the
main hatch, with coal-bunkers opening
on the deck on either side. Fitted to the
bulwarks on either side, near the stern,
are cranes for the boats, and towing
chocks are set in the deck on either
quarter aft. The steamers are built of
hard pine, with white oak frames. The
hold or tank for slowing the fish is water
tight, and is said to make the vessels ex-
ceedingly safe. The steamers are how,
ever, SO constructed that they are not fit
for sea in rough weather, and they sell
dom venture from harbor at such times.
The sailing vessels are either schooner
or sloop rugged, many of them being
open boats from to ten tons measure
ment, while the larger vessels are in some
cases 50 or 80 tons. Used with the YES
sells is carry-away boat, which is q wide
beam, sloop-rigged open boat capable of
heavy burden, and is used to carry the
catch to the factory. Steamers have no
need OF these boats, but take their fish
direct to the factory.