180 REPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



From all variclics (d.-Kiualic oils maybe separated, at a low lem- 

 l)era1ure, a solid fat or grease known as "foots" or "stearin," some- 

 wliat similar to the 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 bnlk of the crude oil. Tt is sold at a few cents 

 j)er pound, and is used as a. substitute for tallow from sheei^ and oxen 

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

 technical purposes. 



lileaching the various marine oils pi'oduces a semi-solid fat known 

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

 the variety of oil treated. This material is used in smearing sheep, 

 washing fruit trees, soaii-manufacture, etc. 



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

 like spermaceti is obtained, tlie quantity yielded approximating 11 

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

 pally in candle-making, as an ointment for medicinal purposes, for 

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

 cartridges. 



Another wax-like sul)stance peculiar to the si)erm whale is amber- 

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

 sometimes in comparatively large quantities wdthin 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 nse at present is 

 in the preparation of fine perfumes. 



The principal axiuatie i^roducts used for fertilizer are seaweeds, 

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

 cially tlie menhaden, and waste parts of edible species. iVt pi-esent 

 the quantity of this fertilizer produced annually in the United States 

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

 of ver}^ great increase, especially in the (piantity of seaweeds and 

 waste fish employed. 



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

 aquatic animals. Formerly this i^ercentage was gi'cater, 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. 

 Full}^ 75 per cent of all the furs pi-oduced in the Ignited States are 

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

 beaver, otter, and sea-otter. The value of the annual outi)ut of these 

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

 state. 



Leather is made fi-om the skins of practically all llic aciuatic 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 

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



