OILS 451 



oil, seal oil, and cod-liver oil. The three former are all known under the name train 

 oil. 



Whale Oil. The capture of the whales is a large commercial undertaking ; many 

 well-manned ships, and fitted out at a great expense, proceed every year from 

 England, Holland, France, and other nations, into the Arctic zone in search of these 

 animals, and especially the Greenland species (Balana mysticetus). This valuable 

 animal has produced to Britain 700,0002. in one year, and one cargo has been known 

 to be worth ll.OOO/. The Greenland whale inhabits the polar seas ; its length is 

 from 60 to 70 feet when full-grown. When the whales are captured they are secured 

 alongside the ship, and the process of flensing commences. The men, having shoes 

 armed with long iron spikes to maintain their footing, get down on the huge and 

 slippery carcass, and, with very long knives and sharp spades, make parallel cuts 

 through the blubber, from the head to the tail. A band of fat, however, is left 

 around the neck, called the kent, to which hooks and ropes are attached for the 

 purpose of shifting round the carcass. The long parallel strips are divided across 

 into portions, weighing about half a ton each ; and, being separated from the flesh 

 beneath, are hoisted on board, chopped into pieces, and put into casks. During the 

 homeward voyage the animal matters, &c. attached to the blubber, undergo decom- 

 position to a certain extent, while there is at the same time a peculiar fat formed, 

 which is a compound of glycerine and phoaenic acid, and which imparts the disagree- 

 able odour peculiar to train oil. Dumas has shown that this acid is identical with 

 valerianic acid. After the decomposition of the blubber, the oil runs from it easily, 

 and the whole is put into casks with perforated bottoms, placed over tanks for 

 receiving the oil. The oil is heated to about 212, to facilitate the separation of 

 the impurities ; aud, in order to further purify it, some use a solution of tannin, 

 to precipitate the gelatine present ; others use different metallic salts, as acetate 

 of lead. On the western coast of Ireland the whale is sometimes captured, and 

 yields a large quantity of very good oil, superior to sperm oil for illuminating 

 purposes. The sperm whale (Physeta macrocephalus) does not yield so much oil 

 as the Greenland whale, but yields considerably more of the valuable substance 

 spermaceti. 



Train oil is of a brownish colour, with a disagreeable odour. It is used for 

 lighting, in the manufacture of soaps, and in the preparation of leather. 



Seal OH. The seal-fishery of Newfoundland has now become the most important 

 part of the trade of that colony. Although, perhaps, not so extensive a staple as the 

 cod-fishery, yet, when capital and time employed, &c., are taken into consideration, it 

 is the most profitable business of that colony. 



A quarter of a century ago, there were only about 50 vessels, varying from 30 t.o 

 60 tons burthen, engaged in this branch of trade ; but it has since been gradually 

 increasing, until upwards of 400 vessels are engaged in the trade. 



The vessels engaged in this business are from 75 to 200 tons burthen. Those lately 

 added to the sailing fleet, and which are now considered of the most suitable sizes, 

 range from 130 to 160 tons. Vessels of this size carry- from 40 to 50 men. The 

 season of embarking for this voyage is from the 1st to the 15th of March. The 

 voyage seldom exceeds two months, and is often performed in two or three weeks. 

 Several vessels make two voyages in the season, and some perform the third voyage 

 within the space of two months and a half. 



The seals frequenting the coast of Newfoundland are supposed to whelp their young 

 in the months of January and February ; this they do upon pans and fields of ice, on 

 the coast, and to the northward of Labrador. This ice or the ' whelping ice,' as it is 

 termed from the currents and prevailing northerly and north-east winds, trends 

 towards the east and north-east coast of Newfoundland, and is always to be found on 

 some part of the coast after the middle of March, before which time the seals are too 

 young to be profitable. 



The young seal does not take to the water until it is three months old. They are 

 often discovered in such numbers within a day's sail of the port, that three or four 

 days will suffice to load a vessel with the pelts, which consist of the skin and fat at- 

 tached, this being taken off while the animal is warm ; the carcass, being of no value, 

 is left on the ice. The young seals are accompanied by the old ones, who take to 

 the water on the approach of danger. When the ice is jammed, and there is no open 

 water, large numbers of the old seals are shot. The young seals are easily captured ; 

 they offer no resistance, and a slight stroke of a bat on the head readily despatches 

 them. When the pelts are taken on board, sufficient time is allowed for them to cool 

 on deck. They are then stowed away in bulk in the hold, and in this stage they reach 

 the market of St. John's and other ports in the island. Five-sevenths of the whole 

 catch reach the St. John's market. A thousand seals are considered as a remunerating 

 number : but the majority of the vessels return with \ipwards of 3,000, many with 



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