234 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



VOL. XIII, 



loss of oil by saponification is large in accordance with the acidity 

 of the oil and there is, ordinarily, no local market for the resulting 

 soap stock so that the saponified oil is a dead loss ; fourthly, labour 

 and fuel are appreciable items of cost. Possibly a central refinery 

 drawing to itself large quantities of crude oil and improving it by 

 the above and subsequently mentioned methods, might succeed 

 commercially, since, if at Calicut, it could sell its soap stock to the 

 Government Soap Works for use in fish-oil soaps (saddle, insecti- 

 cidal, etc.), or, if located elsewhere, could itself make such soaps. 



133. In the above Coonoor experiments, oils were obtained both 

 from the Government Yard at Tanur (A oils) and from various 

 private factories (B oils) along the Coast. The Tanur oils needed 

 little neutralization, the acidity ranging between 1*9 and 5*2 with 

 one sample at I3'4 per cent; B oils gave seriously bad results 

 showing acidity from 33 to 463 per cent with a loss of oil up to 51 

 per cent, the soap stock (oil, alkali, and water) mounting up to 44 

 per cent. The following table displays results : — 



* After neutralization preceded by steaming, there were found with scap stock at the 

 bottom of the flask, scales of £sh and other organic matter which were originally suspended 

 or dissolved in the oil. 



Steaming for about 15 minutes with 20 lb. steam suffices for the removal of prac- 

 tically all the volatile acid matter. 



t The darkening in colour is due probably to prolonged heating during drying as the 

 undried oil, after neutralization, is of a lighter colour. 



