4 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



whale, and on the California coast the gray whale. Neither of these species yields bone of great 

 value and both furnish but a limited quantity of oil. Humpback, sulphur-bottom, and right 

 whales are occasionally captured at the California and Alaskan stations, but seldom on the 

 Atlantic coast. 



THE PRODUCTS. The products of the fishery in 1880 were valued at $2,323,943, and included 

 37,614 barrels of sperm oil and 34,626 barrels of whale oil ; 458,400 pounds of whalebone, worth 

 $907,049, and $5,465 worth of ambergris and walrus ivory. The Pacific-Arctic grounds were the 

 most productive, yielding oil and bono worth $1,249,990. From Atlantic Ocean grounds oil and 

 bone were taken worth $908,771. 



The principal products of the whale-fishery are oil and bone, the former obtained from the 

 blubber and the latter from the jaws of the animal. The minor products are ambergris from sperm 

 whales and guano and glue made from bones and other refuse matter. Oil as it comes from the 

 animal is classed as sperm oil and whale oil, the former being derived exclusively from sperm 

 whales, and the latter from the right whale and other varieties, as also from blackfish and porpoise. 

 Walrus oil, taken by the northern fleet, is also generally classed as' whale oil. Sperm oil is worth 

 about double the value of other whale oil. Northern whale oil is slightly higher than southern 

 oil and blackfish higher than either. From sperm oil is made refined oils for lubricating, and 

 spermaceti used chiefly for candles. The jaws of blackfish and porpoise yield a very superior 

 oil, employed for lubricating watches and clocks. 



Crude or unrefined sperm oil is little used, though about half the entire production of ordinary 

 whale oil is used in a crude state in the manufacture of cordage. 



The oil is prepared at the refineries and sent to market under various trade names, as Spring- 

 make natural, Spring-make bleached, Natural winter, Bleached winter, and DouUe-bleached winter. 

 These names indicate the grades of oil and the processes of refining. The results of refining 

 sperm oil are three or more grades of oil and two qualities of spermaceti. From whale oil are pro- 

 duced several grades of oil, whale-foots, which is a tallow-like substance, and oil soap used by 

 scourers. 



The refining of whale oils is carried on almost exclusively at New Bedford, which port is 

 practically the headquarters of the American whaling industry. When the business was 

 extensive there were several large refineries in active operation, but for some years past three 

 establishments have been enough to care for the entire production.* The process of refining varies 

 according to the kind of oil, yet in some essentials the methods are alike for all. 



When landed from the vessels the oil is in wooden casks, varying in size from a few gallons to 

 a hogshead or more in capacity. If not sold at once to the refiners it is stored on the wharves or 

 in sheds, being covered with seaweed and boards to protect the barrels from leakage by exposure 

 to the sun. It sometimes remains in this condition for many months or even years. 



At the refinery the oil is drained into vats and the casks rinsed out with hot oil, recoopered, 

 and made ready for another cruise, or sold to be sent to Africa for shipping palm oil. 



In the refining process the oil is first heated, when pieces of blubber and foreign matter settle, 

 and the clear oil is again put in casks to be packed in ice pits and subjected to the freezing 

 process, which partially congeals or granulates it. The next step in the refining is to strain the 

 oil through woolen cloths to separate the foots, and it is then put in cotton bags, and submitted 

 to heavy pressure, which further separates the oil from the solid matter, leaving in the bags, if 

 sperm oil, spermaceti, which is further heated and refined, or in the case of whale oil leaving 

 whale-foots, extens' .-oly used by tanners for softening leather. The various grades of oil are 

 obtained by further heating and pressing, and by the admixture of chemicals to clarify or bleach it. 



* Refineries have recently (1885) been established at San Francisco, Cal. 



