HTSTOilY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. 293 



to a temperature of one hundred and ten degrees. This pro- 

 cess destroys the watery acid in the oil. 



Winter Strained Whale Oil. Whale oil, after bleach- 

 ing, is made into winter oil by exposing it in casks to cold 

 weather, or by artificial freezing in the summer. When frozen 

 it is granulated, or separated into grains, or masses, like sperm 

 oil. At a temperature when the oil begins to exhibit liquid 

 particles, it is taken from the casks, and put into double cot- 

 ton strainers. The oil which comes from this straining is called 

 winter strained whale oil. 



The following facts respecting winter strained whale oil may 

 not be wholly destitute of interest. It is found that it will 

 endure a greater degree of cold at the same temperature than 

 winter pressed sperm oil ; it will burn longer, and its specific 

 gravity is heavier ; but it will not give so brilliant a light as- 

 sperm oil. 



Spring Whale Oil. What remains after straining the 

 first time, goes through the process of heating, cooling, and 

 pressing, similar to spring sperm oil ; and thus is obtained the- 

 spring whale oil. 



That which is left after straining and pressing is called ichale 

 foots. 



The following are a few of the uses to which whale foots are 

 applied. In making an inferior kind of candles, in making 

 some kinds of bar soap, and likewise used on railways and in 

 ship yards. 



The adamantine candles are made of spermaceti mixed with 

 wax, in proportion of one ounce of wax to a pound of sperma- 

 ceti, and subjected to powerful steam pressure. They are not 

 only much harder than spermaceti candles, and variously col- 

 ored, but they command a higher price in the market. There 

 is a manufactory of this description in Philadelphia. 



Oil soap is made from the deposit of alkali, in the process of 

 bleaching. If, after pressing and bleaching, the oils should 

 retain too dark a color, they are then bleached again. Some 



