Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-09

NE of the most important mari
time industries along the At
lantic coast is the catching OF
menbaden and the making OF
them into oil for cheap paint
and soap and into scrap for Iertin1er.
In this industry there is invested fuiiy
s5n,oe0ooo in the gigantic factories and IN
the vast fleet OF steamers and otner
craft During the period that the hsh
run, from early in March until late IN
October. upward of 10000 men are en-
ployed. The catch runs into billions, and
the annual output of oil and scrap is
valued at close to s1OO.O00.O0o.
The menhaden industry began in New
England scores of years ago when farm
ers used to catch the fish and spread
them upon their land. but since about
1865 the industry has taken on a new
phase and the factories utilize the oil
as well as the rest of the fish, obtaining
two valuable products, whereas but one
Was obtained before.
*
OF THE several species of fish that are
not tit for food the menhaden Is the
most prolific. But little of It's history or
movements is known save that 1t Is sup
posed TO spawn in the Mississippi river
during February and then Immediately
makes its way into the gulf and thence
up the coast. 1t is not large fish, few
ever measuring more than nine inches
or weighing more than ten ounces, but
what the fish lack In individual size they
make up in numbers in which they
school sometimes running two and three
million, as near as can be estimated by
those who have spent years in the busi-
ness.
The Inenhaden is known by at least
three names-menhaden moss bunker
and pogie-the former name being ap-
,,lied in southern waters and ON the
Chesapeake bay. the second name along
The Atlantic coast and the latter.name on
Long Island sound, but no matter by
what name, 1t is the same little, oily lsh,
u relative OF the ellwife and tastes no
better.
fourteen or fifteen gallons of oil and one
, ton OF scrap, and when it is stated that
one factory In one season handled 3d.
O0o.0oo fish it is evident that the entire
catch must not only run into billions,
but that the production of oil at 40 cents
TO 80 cents a gallon and scrap at $33 to
81 a ton amounts TO large sum.
-
AS q matter OF TACT, the lnennaueH
product rivals the output of oysters
in value and that is saying a good deal,
Tor the bivalve has long been considered
one of the best financial propositions Of
the Atlantic coast.
For considerable percentage Of the
men employed in the industry there is
work throughout the entire year, for the
moment the fishing season closes q month
or two is put in at the factories cleaning
up and STRENGTHENING up. Then many
men are put 10 work on the vessels, Civ.
ing them a thorough painting. and by the
time this is done the boats are ready to
go to the shipyards for overhauling OF
boilers and machinery, as well as paint.
ing below the water line. BY the first
OF February the southern fleet is ready,
and II is not many days before some Of
the offshoFe pilots bring in the glad It'd
tGgs that the menhaGen have been sight
si as they make their way from the gulf
lofthWartl To the cooler waters.
sbout the latte part of the month the
FISH are Ye.t pfed oG Cape Henry. cou-
ple weeks alter OF Cape Henlopen and
Two or three weeks later off Nantucket
shoals. So that by April the sea-tishing