AQUATIC PRODUCTS IN ARTS AND INDUSTRIES. 201 



atnre than required. When producing oil of 38° F. test, the amount 

 of "winter sperm oil" yielded is about 75 percent of the original 

 quantity. In former times when a 32° F. test was used, the "winter 

 sperm oil "' was about 67 per cent of the original bulk. This may be 

 sold either in its natural state or bleached. It is used principally as 

 a lubricant, and, to a less extent, as an illuminant in mines. 



After the "winter sperm oil" has been pressed from the bags there 

 i-emains in them a solid of a brownish color, which is again submitted 

 to pressure at a warmer temperature, say 50° to 60° F., and there is 

 produced an oil known as "spring sperm oil," which congeals at the 

 test of 50° to 60° F. above noted. The quantity of "spring sperm 

 oil" is about 9 per cent of the original quantity of crude oil. 



The solid now remaining in the bags is emptied into receptacles and, 

 after remaining for several days at a summer temperature, is dumped 

 out in the form of solid cheese-like cakes. These are stored where 

 the temperature is kept at about 80° F. and in the course of a week 

 or so are shaved up by revolving knives and again bagged and sub- 

 jected to a pressure of about 100,000 pounds to the square inch. This 

 yields a third grade of oil called "taut-pressed oil," which will chill 

 at a temperature of 90° to 95° F. The quantity of oil of this grade is 

 about 5 per cent of the original bulk, making a total of 89 per cent 

 of refined oil obtained. The residue in the bags after the extraction 

 of "taut-pressed oil" is crude spermaceti of a brown color, which will 

 melt at a temperature of 110° to 115° F. The methods of refining 

 spermaceti are set forth on page 245. 



As refined at the present time, sperm oil, including both body oil 

 and head matter, yields about 11 per cent of crude spermaceti and 89 

 per cent of refined oils, in the following proportions : 75 per cent of 

 "winter sperm," 9 per cent "spring sperm," and 5 per cent "taut- 

 pressed oil." A barrel of crude sperm oil of 314 gallons, weighing 231 

 Ijounds, yields 25 pounds of refined spermaceti, 23.6 gallons of " win- 

 ter sperm," 2.8 gallons of "spring sperm," and 1.5 gallons of "taut- 

 pressed oil." The prices of these (January, 1902) are: Spermaceti, 

 23 to 24 cents per pound; winter sperm, 75 to 77 cents per gallon; 

 spring sperm, 60 to 61 cents; taut-pressed, 50 to 53 cents, and sj)erm 

 soap 3 cents per pound ; a total of about 124. 50 resulting from one 

 barrel of crude oil. 



Sperm oil is one of the most characteristic and valuable oils in com- 

 merce. It is verj^ generally conceded to be the best lubricator in 

 existence for light, rajjid machinery, such as the spindles of cotton and 

 woolen mills, its viscousuess, tenacity, and high flash-point causing 

 it to work with great uniformity and with a small amount of friction. 

 But there are many cheap substitutes — made from petroleum princi- 

 pally — which, though not so good, answer the purjaose nearly as well; 

 consequently the demand for sperm oil is far less than formerly, 

 and even much of that sold as sperm contains a large admixture of 

 liydrocarbon and other oils. 



