The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10
PRESERVATION OF FISH
Methods for Retaining the Fresh
ness Of Water Denizens.
Valuable Experiments Conducted by
the Fish mmission - lee Re-
garded ms an Unsatisfactory Safe
guard Against Decay In Packing.

The Fish Commission has been conduct
ing series of experiments at their biolog-
ical laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass. for
the purpose of ascertaining to what degree
fish are spoiled by carelessness, filth, and
bad packing. and to devise methods by
which these evils might be mitigated.
1t is well known that ice, as ordinarily
used in packing. is more or less unsatis-
factory. It spoils the freshness, flavor.
and frmness of the fish: but moreover. tho
moisture of the melting ice fsvors the de-
yelopment of certain putrefaetive bacteria.
If the fish are so handled that the activity
OF the bacteria is restricted. the process
of decay will be retarded: but If the fish
are handled so as to encourage the raw
ages Of the bacteria. the process of decay
Will progress much more rapidly. The
pressing of fish by close packing softens
the muscles and renders the flesh more
susceptible to invasion by putrefaetlys
bacteria. Packing fish in foul barrels and
Unciean boxes. the contamination from
which is conveyed to the fish by the melt
ing ice, also contributes to their speedy
decay.
The animals used for the experiments
at Woods Hole were sQueteague. bonito,
bluefish, and tilefish. The fish from the
large trap owned by the Fish Commission
and located in Buzzard's Bay furnished en-
unlimited supply Of material. During July
and August squeteague were abundant;
their flesh is soft, very susceptible to
invasion by putrefactive bacteria. and
difficult to preserve by the ordinary meth
DDS of packing. Bonito were occasionally
taken; their flesh is firm and hard and
relatively easy to preserve.
The first experiments were to determine
the influence of ordinary summer tenn
perature and OF the different methods of
killing and handling upon putrefaetion.
Forty eight squeteague were hung up by
a wire passing through the eyes; twenty
four had the intestines removed, after
which the fish were Immediately drained.
The other twenty-four were not opened.
The experiment was made in a place
protected from the sun. but to which the
air had full access The weather was
humid and foggy. After twenty-four
hours the fish we're examined. Those that
had not been opened were putrid and
emitted an almost unbearable odor. Those
whose intestines had been removed were
in better condition and might even have
been used for food. The abdominal cavity
was much fresher and putrefaction had
not penetrated so deeply into the flesh.
The next experiment was with twenty
fonr squeteague and six bonitos. After
removing the intestines as in the previ-
Gus instance, the fish we're laid Gu their
sides on a plank. but not in contact with
one another The day was humid and
foggy At the end of twenty-four hours
the fish were examined The squeteague
were badly decomposed on the side next
the wood; on the other side decomposi-
tion had not proceeded SO far, although
t,1 cd
tent.
In the dy-cavity decomposition was
evident but il had not advanced very far.
The bonitos were in much better condi-
ton. although they emitted an odor of
putrefaction, the side on which they are
situation being most affected The walls
of the body-cavity also were In better
condition than those of the squeteague.
The experiment Is regarded as showing
conclusively that the free circulation OF
air about fish retards the progress of de-
cay.
After the intestines had been removed
from twelve sGueteague the fish were
hung up by their tails and allowed to re-
main twenty-four hours. The weather
was cloudy. and the atmospheric eondi-
tions were less favorable than In the pre-
yious experiments. Yet. at the end OF
twenty-four hours the fish were found TO
be in much better condition than in the
instances already cited
Next. twenty-four living squeteague
were decapitated. thoroughly drained, and
their intestines removed From another
series OF equal number the intestines only
were removed. The fOrty-eigh. fish we're
packed in bog in close contact with one
another The weather and temperature
conditions were practically the same as on
the occasion of the last-named experiment
At tho end OF twentY-four hours the fish
were very soft and had q bad odor. Al
though the twelty-four which had been
decapitated were in q better state oil pres
ervation than the others all were UNIT
for use. Those in the top layer. when they
were exposed to the air, were In early
stages of decomposition Those on the
bottom, away from the air and moistened
by the drip from those above, were l.:
vanced stages ct decomposition. The ex-
pertinent is looked upon as indicating the
Importance Of thorough ers:ning OF the
flesh by early decapitation. The presence
of blood hastens decay.