244 ilEPOKT OF C0MMI8SIONEK 0¥ FISH AND FISHERIES. 



indicative of an oriental origin, and recommended as a cure for con- 

 sumption and diseases of the chest and hack. 



The oil of the manatee is one of tlie few blubber oils which does not 

 become lancid on exposure to the sun, and on the contrary acquires 

 a fine flavor and agreeable odor through such exposui-e. On the west 

 coast of Africa, in the West Indies, Guiana, and JJrazil, it forms an 

 important item of domestic commerce; it is used as a lubi-icator, as an 

 illuminant, in cooking, and for the table. 



Speaking of tlie American species {Manatus ainericanits), Dr. R. 

 Brookes in liis " Natural History" states: 



The fat which lies between the cuticle and the skin, when exposed to the sun, 

 has a fine smell and taste, and far exceeds the fat of any sea animal. It has this 

 peciiliar j^roperty, that the heat of the sun will not spoil it, nor make it grow ran- 

 cid. The taste is like the oil of sweet almonds, and it will serve very well in all 

 cases instead of butter. Any quantity may be taken inwardly with safety, for it 

 has no other effect than keeping the body open. The fat of the tail is of a harder 

 consistence, and when boiled is more delicate than the other. 



The fat obtained from beaver is made into an ointment by the 

 Indians, to which they attribute many curative and medicinal j^roper- 

 ties, especially its power to preveiit frost bites, the anointed parts of 

 the body not being affected even when exposed to the most extreme 

 cold. An old treatise of 1685, credited to Joanne Mario, attributes 

 marvelous curative properties to beaver oil : 



It is efficacious in all maladies which affect the nerves. It is useful in epilepsy, 

 and prevents ajwplexy and lethargy; stops spasms and convulsions, and is of 

 great help in giddiness, toothache, asthma, dysentery, and strains. 



On the Macquarie Islands, the coast of Patagonia, and several other 

 places in the cold regions of the Southern Hemisphere, large num- 

 bers of penguin are caught and used in oil rendering. On Macquarie 

 Island the royal penguin and the king penguin are used, while on 

 the Patagonian coast the jackass penguin is the principal species, 

 with smaller numbers of macaronis and red bills. These birds are 

 found on tlie shores in gi-eat numbers and are easily killed with clubs. 

 In some localities the breast skin, with the attached blubber, is the 

 only part cooked, the rest being discarded; but usually the entire 

 body is placed in pots and cooked. When thoroughl.N' disintegrated 

 the mass is jiressed and the oil thus extracted. 



SPERMACETI REFINING AND MANUFACTURE. 



Spermaceti is the solid portion of the crude oil of sperm whales and 

 of certain other cetaceans. As noted in the chapter on sperm-oil ren- 

 dering, it occurs in a state of solution in si)ecial cavities of the skull and 

 to a much less extent in various parts of the body, especially in the 

 core of the dorsal liump. The process of its extraction and the sepa- 

 ration of the oil thei-efi-om have already been noted in the .-lecount of 

 rendering sperm oil, and it now remains to describe the subsequent 

 treatment of the crude and refined spermaceti. 



