BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES USH COMMISSION. 41. r > 



136.— PORPOISE PRODUCTS. 

 By GEORGE L. SPARKS. 



1 forward to you today a box containing samples of porpoise products 

 in the line of meats and sausage manufactured from the flesh of the 

 porpoise. As far as I can learn, this is the first attempt ever made to 

 utilize the product in this shape. I shall be able shortly to produce a 

 superior article to what you will receive. This present stock was manu- 

 factured from flesh that had remained in salt for several weeks, owing to 

 the difficulty in transporting, curing, smoking, &c, a new article. If I 

 meet with any encouragement with the product commercially, I will 

 erect the necessary buildings, machinery, and work the product up fresh 

 on the ground. Our fishery is located at Hatteras, K C, which we have 

 secured by contract and purchase for a number of years. So far this 

 .season we have captured some 600 porpoises. If the weather had been 

 favorable, with our appliances, we should have obtained about 2,000. 

 This we expect will be the total for the season. I am considering the 

 matter of sending some of the product to the New Orleans Exposition. 

 We have sold some of the meat, but not as porpoise flesh, there being 

 a certain amount of prejudice against eating it as such. However, I be- 

 lieve when properly brought out, that can be overcome. We are pro- 

 ducing a very superior oil from the body and jaw; also an excellent ar- 

 ticle of leather, of our own tanning. The business being comparatively 

 a new one to this part of the world, we experience considerable difficulty 

 in making a market, especially with the meat product. I believe that 

 in destroying the porpoise we are doing for all engaged in the fishing in- 

 dustry a great service. We have expended a large sum in learning the 

 best way to capture and utilize this animal, and we believe we shall be 

 successful. There was a porpoise fishing company at Cape May, N. J., 

 which during its existence of some two years succeeded in capturing 

 about 120 porpoises. 



340 South Front Street, 



Philadelphia, Pa., February 19, 1885. 



The following item from the Scientific American may be of interest 



in this connection : 



Porpoise fishing for the oil alone has been carried on many years off the North 

 Carolina coast. The process of rendering the oil is very simple, and the average 

 amount obtained is from 6 to 8 gallons. The experiment made last summer by the 

 Capo May compauy proved successful, $3,740 being realized, it is said, from an 

 outlay of $1,000 in five weeks' fishiug, and its facilities for taking porpoises will be 

 greatly increased the coming season. The skin of the porpoise makes a very superior, 

 soft, and pliable leather, and the estimated value of each individual for its oil and skin 

 alone is placed at $20. Last autumn it was discovered that the flesh made rather a 

 savory dish, and it became so popular at the fashionable watering-places along the 



