FISHERIES FOR WHALES 105 



Whale oil is marketed in five grades : Nos. 0, 1,2, 3, 

 and 4. Nos. and 1 are made entirely from blubber ; 

 No. 2 from tongues and kidney fat and from the residue 

 of the blubber boilings ; No. 3 is made from the flesh and 

 bones, and No. 4 from refuse. The different grades 

 contain progressively from J to 1 per cent water and 

 dirt, and from 2 to 30 per cent free fatty acid. 



Grades 0, 1 and 2 of whale oil are used in the manu- 

 facture of soap, glycerine being obtained from it as a 

 by-product. In its natural condition the oil is soft, 

 and has to be " hardened " before it can be used for soap 

 making. The hardened whale oil is white, odourless 

 and tasteless, and is an excellent substitute for tallow. 

 In this condition it is also used as a substitute for lard 

 and, to a small extent, is used in making margarine. 



Grades 3 and 4 are used in the manufacture of lubri- 

 cating greases. Whale oil alone is used for shafting and 

 machinery bearings. When mixed with mineral oil, 

 it is used for looms, spindles and textile machinery. 

 Whale oil is also used as an illuminant, for currying 

 leather, and in making chamois leather, for batching flax 

 and other vegetable fibres, and in oiling wool for combing. 

 In 1913, the world's annual catch of whale oil had 

 reached 800,000 barrels. During the war the supply 

 was considerably less, for example in 1917 it was only 

 358,000 barrels. 



Whalebone. Whalebone from the mouths of the 

 Right or whaleboned whales is in considerable demand 

 among dressmakers and milliners. Its principal use 

 is in the brush trade, chiefly in making brushes for 

 mechanical purposes. It is prepared for use by being 

 boiled in water for about 12 hours until it is quite soft. 

 It is then cut into strips or bristles or filaments, according 

 to the use for which it is intended. It is light, flexible, 

 tough and fibrous. 



8 (1457H) 



