Donovan. — Distillation of- Waikaia Oil-shale 29 



Calorific value, gross, in calories per cubic foot . . . . . . 1529 



5, net, in calories per cubic foot . . . , . . 1375 



„ gross, in British thermal units per cubic foot . . 6111 



„ net, in British thermal units per cubic foot . . 5456 



(Gas measured at 15-5° C. and 762 mm.) 



There would be about 3,250 cubic feet of such gas per ton of shale. 

 The calorific value is approximately the same as that of good coal-gas. 



Summary. 



Waikaia shale would yield on distillation the following products per 

 ton : 38 gallons crude oil, equivalent to 34| gallons once-run oil ; ammonium 

 sulphate, 8 lb. ; gas free from carbon dioxide, 3,250 cubic feet. 



After fractional distillation and refining the oil would give the following 

 products per ton, allowing 10 per cent, for impurities and loss : Light 

 oil (naphtha), 2-5 gallons ; burning-oil, 8-8 gallons ; light lubricating-oil, 

 6-2 gallons ; heavy liibricating-oil, 12-0 gallons ; paraffin, 20 lb. 



(The amount of light oil would probably be increased by scrubbing 

 the gas evolved with a suitable medium oil, to dissolve the light hydro- 

 carbons that escape condensation.) 



The shale appears to be very similar to Orepuki shale. 



^ Art. VI. — Sting-ray-liver Oil. 



By W. Donovan, M.Sc 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 3rd Decewher, 1919 ; received by Editor, 

 31st December, 1919 ; issued sejmrately, 4th June, 1920.] 



Mr. Hoyle, of Thames, conducted some experiments in the extraction of 

 oil from sting-ray livers, and a quantity of about 8 oz., which he obtained 

 from the liver of a single fish, was examined at the Dominion Laboratory 

 in September, 1918. The sting-ray was probably Dasyhatis brevicaudatus 

 (Hutton). 



The oil was compared with cod-liver oil, with the following results : — ■ 



Cod-liver Oil. 



0-923-0-930 



182-187 



137-167 



1-4800 



0-6-2-6 



42-9 



The oil was free from rancidity, and quite palatable. It contained 

 some " stearine," which made it cloudy at low temperature, and which, 

 in the case of cod-oil, is usually removed by cooling and filtering. 



If the present sample were similarly treated the product would scarcely 

 be distinguishable in appearance or composition from good cod-liver oil. 



