No. 3 (1921) MANUFACTURE OF FISH OIL AND GUANO I99 



hope was unwarranted. Doubtless the high profits of the first two 

 or three years led to the rapid development of the petty factories, 

 but the continued increase of the same to the present time shows 

 that good profits are, in general obtainable, whether from guano 

 alone or from the combined output of oil and guano. 



92. Quantities. — The quantities of oil produced over a series of 

 years are not accurately known since no statistical staff exists ; the 

 proportions of oil to fish are very fluctuating, and the factory 

 owners are suspicious and reticent in view of income-tax possibili- 

 ties. But it is obvious that a good deal of oil, possibly above 5,000 

 tons, is obtained in years when, as in 1919-20, at least 100,000 tons 

 offish were utilized in making 20,000 tons of guano ; on the other 

 hand oil may be scarce in adverse years. For instance, during 

 the very adverse current season, 1920-21, the gross output of oil is 

 estimated at less than 400tons from possibly 10,000 tons fresh fish 

 (2,000 tons dry guano), or less than 4 per cent ; the maximum yield 

 was said to be 5 per cent. 



93. Character of the oil. — Menhaden oil is described in paragraphs 

 4, and 38 — 41 supra ; West Coast oil is mentioned in paragraphs 4, 

 57 — 59, 64 and elsewhere. Generally speaking, the oil now 

 produced at the Government yard, Tanur, is of fine quality ranging 

 from light yellow to orange and never deeper in colour, and corre- 

 sponds to that produced by the best American methods ; the best 

 oil has been described by a firm in England as " unique " ; it is 

 almost inodorous and comparatively tasteless and free from acidity. 

 But the oil generally produced by the small factories is very 

 different, being always brown, sometimes almost black from 

 scorching (see paragraphs 57 — 59): it is stronger in odour than the 

 Tanur oil, sometimes being malodorous, and from want of washing 

 and from exposure to air it is frequently unduly acid. There are 

 exceptions where certain manufacturers have accepted teaching by 

 " Fisheries "; in such cases, even where steam is not available, A-I 

 yellow oilfitforany purpose, has been produced in considerable 

 quantity. The following extract from the Bulletin of the Imperial 

 Institute, London, for January — March 19I4, relates to samples sent 

 home for examination ; specimens 6,7, 9 and 10 were samples of 

 ordinary coast oil, the others being from the Tanur Yard. It must be 

 noticed, however, that all these samples were sent in the earlier days 

 of manufacture, and that the ordinary coast oil when made by the 

 better class of factories is now probably better than samples 6, 7, 9 

 and 10. 



