Branding Kettle, 1877

keg brand

Iron brand used to mark kegs of fish. Rusted round iron container, tapered and perforated at base, with T-handle and wooden grip. Bronze bottom plate reads: "C. SMALL/ MACKEREL/ No 1/ 1877/ MASS./ DEP. INSP./ SOUTH HARWICH". Hot coals were place in drum to head bronze plate. Drum has sliding lid with hanging hook. Bronze plate diameter = 6-1/2". This �branding kettle� was used by deputy inspector Caleb Small of South Harwich, Massachusetts, to mark casks of the most valuable �No. 1� mackerel in 1877.