Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Volume 901-925

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 Excerpt: ...known as Matjeshering and spiced herring. MATJESHERING. Fresh full herring, both spawners and melton, are well washed, and the gills, stomach, and intestines are removed in such a way as not to necessitate cutting the throat or abdomen, this being accomplished by pulling them through the gill flap. The fish are next immersed for 12 or 18 hours in a 7 per cent solution of white wine vinegar, from which they must be removed before the skin becomes flabby and be wiped dry and covered with a preparation composed of 2 pounds of salt, 1 pound of powdered sugar, and a small quantity of saltpeter, this quantity being sufficient for 75 herring. The fish are then packed in a barrel as upright as possible, in layers, with a sprinkling of salt over each. The following day the fish are returned with the original brine to the barrel, which is sealed.' When there is not sufficient brine to fill the barrel, additional should be made of 1 part of the above mixture and 4 parts of water which has been boiled. SPICED HERRING. Spiced herring (Gewurzhering) are prepared in Germany in the manner above described, with the addition of spices mixed with the salt. The spices commonly used consist of 1 part of Spanish pepper, 5 parts of white pepper, 4 parts of cloves, 21 parts of ginger, an equal quantity of mustard, and a particle of mace and of Spanish marjoram, with a few bay leaves scattered between the layers. Some years ago one of the sardine-packing companies built up an attractive trade in spiced herring. Although the supply of fish for this product was not as uniform as could be desired, as many as 5,000 cases were prepared and sold in one season. The scarcity of fish made it difficult to supply the demands during the next season. The trade in spiced herring was finally ruin...