180 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



From all varieties of aquatic oils may be separated, at a low tem- 

 perature, a solid fat or grease known as "foots" or "stearin," some- 

 what similar to tlie tallow obtained from sheep and oxen. This is 

 obtained in the process of refining the oils, and the yield ranges from 

 3 to 20 per cent of the bulk of the crude oil. It is sold at a few cents 

 per pound, and is used as a substitute for tallow from sheep and oxen 

 in sizing yarns, as emollient in leather-dressing, and for various other 

 technical purposes. 



Bleaching the various marine oils produces a semi-solid fat known 

 as "sperm soap," "whale soap," "menhaden soap," etc., according to 

 the variet}^ of oil treated. This material is used in smearing sheep, 

 washing fruit trees, soap-manufacture, etc. 



In the process of refining sperm oil, instead of the foots, the wax- 

 like spermaceti is obtained, the quantity yielded approximating 11 

 per cent in weight of the crude sperm oil. Spermaceti is used princi- 

 fjally in candle-making, as an ointment for medicinal purx)oses, for 

 producing a polish on linen in laundering, and for self -lubricating 

 cartridges. 



Another wax-like substance peculiar to the sjiei-m whale is amber- 

 gris, an extremelj" valuable substance found at rare intervals, but 

 sometimes in comparatively large quantities within the intestines of 

 that animal, and also afloat on the sea or cast up on the shores. A 

 single whale has yielded $50,000 worth of this material, and several 

 intances are reported in which $20, 000^ worth has been obtained from 

 one cetacean. Ambergris was formerly used as an incense, in cook- 

 ery, as a medicine, and as a perfume. Its principal use at present is 

 in the preparation of fine i^erfumes. 



The principal aquatic j)roducts used for fertilizer are seaweeds, 

 shells of mollusks and crustaceans, non-edible species of fish, espe- 

 cially^ the menhaden, and waste parts of edible species. At present 

 the quantity of this fertilizer produced annually in the United States 

 alone approximates 420,000 tons, worth $2,120,000. This is capable 

 of very great increase, especiallj^ in the quantity of seaweeds and 

 waste fish employed. 



Doubtless 50 per cent of the world's stock of furs is obtained from 

 aquatic animals. Formerly this percentage Avas greater, but it is 

 reduced by the decrease in product of beaver, fur-seal, otter, and sea- 

 otter, and the large increase in quantity of certain land fur-bearers. 

 Fully 75 per cent of all the furs produced in the United States are 

 yielded by aquatic animals, principally the fur-seal, mink, muskrat, 

 beaver, otter, and sea-otter. The value of the annual output of these 

 in- the United States approximates $2,500,000 in the raw or undressed 

 state. 



Leather is made from the skins of practically all the aquatic mam- 

 mals and of most of the species of fish, but these usually rank 

 among novelty or fancy leathers. Seal leather is produced in large 

 quantities, the value of the annual product averaging $1,500,000. 



