21G KKFOKT OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



OIL FROM LIVERS OF COD AND RELATED SPECIES. 

 SOURCES OP SUPPLY. 



Cod oil is obtained from the livers of several si)ecies of fish. In its 

 pure state it is obtained from the livers of cod only, but those of had- 

 dock, pollock, hake, ciisk, ling, and even shark and dog-fish are also 

 used. The last two, however, are not generally recognized as cod-liver 

 oil sources, but are used mainly for jjurposes of adulteration. In the 

 trade the term "cod-liver oil" is used in a restricted sense, applying 

 to the best quality of oil made from choice fresh cod livers and intended 

 for medicinal purposes; all other oil manufactured from livers of cod 

 and related species, not of quality fitting it for medicinal uses, is des- 

 ignated as "cod oil" or "curriers oil." 



Cod oil is of comparatively recent development as an article of com- 

 merce, although it was used locally previous to the nineteenth century. 

 On account of the ease with which whale and seal oils could be secured, 

 cod oil was not in great demand for technical purposes until after the 

 beginning of the nineteenth century. There is nothing to indicate 

 that in the earlj^ cod fisheries on the American coast the livers were 

 utilized to any great extent for oil-rendering, and the same is true of 

 the early fisheries prosecuted in the seas north of Europe. Tlie small 

 demand for medicinal and for technical purposes was readily supplied 

 by a few fishermen of economical and industrious habits, but their 

 output bore only a small proportion to the total quantity obtainable. 

 Curriers used ;i small quantity, and some was employed on fruit trees 

 for destroying insects and fungous growth. 



Early in the nineteenth century the production of cod oil became 

 quite general on the New England coast. The livers were placed in 

 butts and j)ermitted to decompose, and the oil exuding therefrom was 

 dipped off from time to time. Not onl}' was this done b}' the fisher- 

 men who landel their catch ashore each night, but also by the 

 " bankers " who carried butts and barrels for the purpose. As the 

 tanning industries developed, the output of cod oil increased, and by 

 1845 practically all the livers secured were rendered into oil. The 

 output, however, did not keep pace with the demand and during the 

 sixties the price went up to $1.25 per gallon. Mr. Eben B. Phillips, 

 of Swampscott, was one of the pioneer dealer.s in this product and 

 amassed a fortune in the business. 



Gradually other substances were introduced as materials for dress- 

 ing leathers, especially sod oil, degras, and comiwund greases, the 

 cheai)ness of which luxs greatly affected the market for cod oil. The 

 substitution of machine stuffing for hand stuffing in leatlier-dressing 

 and the introduction of chrome tannage have also i-educed the 

 demand. However, the market for inedicinnl oil has constantly 

 increased up to the present time. As a result of these combined 

 uses, the rendering of the livers into oil is almost coextensive in point 



