Forest and Stream, January 10, 1889

THE MENHADEN SEASON.

Sea -- Finfish - Catch : Menhaden

The fishing season which has just closed has been a very satisfactory one to the menhaden men, judging from the newspaper accounts of the work. There are now about ninety steamers engaged in the work, and about as many oil factories are in operation from Maine to North Carolina. Very few sailing vessels are now engaged in this trade, the steamers being quicker and therefore more profitable. Maine factories have not done as well as those further south, and the greatest amount of capital invested in the business is now in the State of New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island coming next. The menhaden fisheries and oil works probably represent $5,000,000 invested, and they employ four or five thousand men. The steamers cost from $30,000 to $40,000 each. The past season has been the best for several years and the profits have been large though the price of the oil has fallen.