210 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHI:RIES. 



decomposition profhicts evolved. When the oil ceases to flow, usually 

 at the end of two or three months, the mass of fat is boiled in water 

 with the fleshy or fat-lean portions. During this boiling the oil rises 

 to the surface and is skimmed off. The residue is evaporated by 

 pressure and drying, and is used for fertilizer. This was formerly 

 the usual method emijloyed in rendering seal oil in Newfoundland, 

 but during the last twenty-five or lliirty j^ears the steam process has 

 been generally adopted. 



In treating a small quantit}^ of blubber for extraction of the oil it 

 is usually more convenient to mince it finely and cook it in a kettle 

 over a fire. The oil rises to the surface and is skimmed off and placed 

 in casks or other suitable receptacles. This is the method commonly 

 employed by the shore hunters whose catch is small. 



At the large sealing ports, as St. Johns, Tonsberg, Dundee, Astra- 

 khan, etc., the oil is usually rendered by means of steam. The 

 minced l)lubber is exposed to the action of steam in large inclosed 

 tanks. The oil flowing therefrom passes through pipes into large 

 reservoirs, of which there are usually three or more, the overflow from 

 the first passing into the second, and the ovei-flow from the second 

 into the third. This furnishes the first quality of steam-refined oil. 

 By pressing the steamed blubber, a second quality of dark-brown oil 

 is obtained. 



The steam jDrocess of rendering has the advantage of rapidity in 

 operation, also the oil is free from disagreeable odor and is of sujierior 

 burning qualities. However, for use in mines the sun-extracted oil 

 is preferred, especially that of young seals, owing to its greater freedom 

 from smoke, the odor being of little consequence to miners. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Carrol," oil from old seals is more smoky than that from 

 young ones; it is also of greater specific gravity, and when the blubber 

 of both are rendered together, the young seal oil comes out first. 



Althougli the catch of seals in the Newfoundland fisher}^ in 1001 

 was almost as large as in 1900, being 345,380 in 1901, as compared 

 with 353,270 in 1900, the yield of oil was about 120,000 gallons less, 

 representing a difference in value of about $50,000. This was i^rinci- 

 pally because the average weight of the seals was small, owing to the 

 fact that in 1901 the seals whelped some daj^s later than in 1900, and 

 furthermore, they were taken two or three da3's earlier than usual, 

 the absence of pack ice enabling the vessels to reach them promptly 

 after leaving harbor. In 1900 the average weight of the seal pelts 

 was about 46 i)ounds, whereas in 1901 it was but 38 pounds. The 

 young seals gain daily two or three pounds in weight of blubber, and 

 if the vessels liad been three or four days later in reaching tlie herds, 

 tlie yield of oil in the Newfoundland fishery in 1901 would x>i"obably 

 have been ai^proximately the same as in 1900. 



The decadence of the seal-oil industry, especially in the waters 

 north of Europe, has been gradual but certain, owing to the introduc- 



« The seal and herring fisheries of Newfoundland, by Miohael Carrol, Montreal, 1873, p. 3(). 



