290 HISTORY AND DETAILS OF WHALING. 



oil, the following just remarks came under our observation, 

 selected from the New Bedford Mercury, January 16, 1857, and 

 are worthy of the attention of all. 



" We embrace the present opportunity to offer some remarks 

 and suggestions in the matter of the adulteration of sperm oil, 

 Avhich has been carried on to such an extent as to form one of 

 the causes, we may safely say, for the decline of the article in 

 price. Like every other commodity, it is liable to be counter- 

 feited ; and we know, after it has passed out of the hands of 

 importers and manufacturers, adulteration has been practised 

 to a wide extent. This is an evil beyond the control of our 

 merchants, however much they may deprecate its influence 

 upon the trade. To say that a system of adulteration is prac- 

 tised here, is a charge which cannot be substantiated by facts ; 

 and to suppose that the manufacturer would knowingly injure 

 or damage his own business, is too absurd to require refutation. 

 . We believe it would be a wise and judicious policy to 

 establish agencies in different sections of the country, with 

 agents of known honesty and integrity, for the wholesale and 

 retail of the article ; and that each barrel and cask bear the 

 name of the manufacturer as a guaranty of its purity. 



" Consumers, especially those who buy for machinery pur- 

 poses, would then know where to make their purchases, and 

 have the assurance of ' value received.' " 



