30 THE WEALTH OF THE SEA 



We may ride to work in an automobile painted 

 with a baking japan containing fish-oil, and sit on 

 imitation leather seats prepared by the use of men- 

 haden or other fish oil. Even if the car has real 

 leather upholstery, fish and fish-liver oil were used 

 in the final tanning and finishing processes. 



We enter our office building painted perhaps with 

 menhaden oil paint containing driers made from fish- 

 oils. The linoleum on the floor may have been made 

 with fish-oil. The greases used in the lubrication of 

 the elevator machinery probably contain fish-oil. 



If it is raining when we come from work in the 

 evening, we put on a rain-coat which may have been 

 made from cloth covered with many coats of a fish- 

 oil varnish. 



Our feet may get wet on the way home. To prevent 

 catching cold we take a tonic. One of the best we may 

 choose is cod-liver oil, which contains the fat-soluble 

 vitamines needed to build up vitality and resistance 

 to disease. 



Perhaps we shall have candles on our dinner- 

 table; if so, it is likely that they were made from 

 stearin obtained from fish or whale oil. Our furni- 

 ture may be finished with a menhaden oil varnish. 

 And the oilcloth which covers the kitchen table was 

 probably made by painting cloth with special men- 

 haden oil paints. 



When we prepare for bed we put on slippers made 

 soft and comfortable by treatment with fish and fish- 

 liver oils, and as we switch off the electric light we 

 may touch an imitation rubber knob of fish-oil 

 composition. 



