Millions from WasteTalbot, Frederick Arthur Ambrose
Philosophy
Millions from Waste
Talbot, Frederick Arthur Ambrose
Salvage (Waste, etc.); Waste products
We must derive far-reaching benefits from the utilization of our
fish waste of every description--not only the offal arising from the
preparation of the foodstuff for the table either in a fresh, kippered,
cured, or canned condition, but the inedible contributions from the
trawls. Those members of the sea’s vast and varied population, such
as the whale, which are trapped for certain highly-prized portions of
their bodies, must be fully exploited. For decades the whale fishery
has been conducted along the most wickedly wasteful lines for which we
are paying to-day. The Scandinavian whalers have been among the worst
offenders in this respect, but they are now being compelled to turn
from the folly of their ways and are endeavouring to utilize the whole
of the carcases of their prizes.
So far as the average member of the community in these islands is
concerned it is a moot point whether he, or she, has any tangible
idea of the magnitude of the British sea-fishing industry. From the
abundance and cheapness of the food a vague notion obtains that it
must certainly be somewhat impressive. To obtain a graphic idea of its
enormous proportions we must venture beyond the limits of domestic
consumption and see how we help to feed the foreigner. Under normal
conditions we ship approximately 1,250,000,000 lb. of fish every year,
representing in value a round £7,750,000--$38,750,000. Of this huge
total the humble herring represents nearly 1,120,000,000 lb., valued
at approximately £6,000,000--$30,000,000. Of the total herring catch
about one thousand million--1,000,000,000--lb. are subjected to curing
or salting for the foreign markets, the value of those exports being
£5,350,000--$26,750,000--so that the herring may truly be said to form
the backbone of the British sea-fisheries. In these circumstances, and
bearing in mind the huge quantities handled, the item of waste must
necessarily loom heavy. It cannot be avoided. Therefore it behoves
us to turn our harvest from the sea to the utmost advantage and to
eliminate the item “loss” from our operations.
As the by-products from fish-waste become appreciated we may even
proceed to the lengths pursued along the northern Atlantic seaboard of
the United States. There the harvest of the menhaden, a fish totally
unfit for human consumption, is carried out expressly for the oil
obtainable therefrom. It has become a flourishing trade--one which is
steadily expanding--special vessels being engaged in the fishery. While
it is questionable if much fish of a comparative character and totally
unsuited to the table is to be caught in the waters around our coasts,
Farther Britain can point to a different state of things. Our Dominions
should find it profitable to emulate the American example and exploit
adjacent waters essentially for inedible fish to extract the oil and
to convert the residue either into fertilizer or poultry food. There is
a lucrative and developing market for all three commodities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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