224 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



the bottom. Here men stand and skim off the oil, while 

 the water is allowed to run away. In some establish- 

 ments the separating-tank is so arranged that the oil 

 can flow into the oil-tanks without having to be dipped out. 

 This of course, saves much labour. 



The oil is now stored in the tanks. When a better 

 grade of oil is desired, it is bleached by exposing it in a 

 shallow " sun-tank " to the action of the sun. If a still 

 finer quality is required, another kind of tank is used, 

 having a frame for the reception of a sash, so that all dust 

 and dirt is excluded, and the oil is bleached without waste. 

 In the bottom of the vats, in the separating-tanks, and else- 

 where, a great mass of sediment collects, consisting of a 

 fine refuse, mixed with some oil. This is put into the 

 "gurry-tank," steam is turned on, and it is thoroughly 

 cooked till the oil rises to the surface ; the " gurry " that 

 remains is then put up in barrels and sold to the soap- 

 makers, who use it for making " fish-oil soap." 



These fish yield a large quantity of oil, the highest per- 

 centage being about four and a half gallons per barrel of 

 fish in the month of September. A thousand fish will 

 yield on the average 13 to 14 gallons of oil, though this 

 depends largely upon the season, and the good or bad con- 

 dition of the fish. 



The uses to which the oil is put are very numerous. It 

 is said to be good for table purposes, and, when properly 

 prepared, the best kind is extensively used under the name 

 of olive oil. As a vehicle for paint, it has a good body, and 

 does not readily abandon the paint which may be mixed 

 with it. It is quite rare to find such paint rubbing off in 

 the shape of powder. Much of the linseed oil in the 

 market has a large amount of menhaden oil mixed with it. 

 This is no disadvantage to the painter's work, but a serious 



