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the case of nets, they tangle themselves up in the meshes, seemingly 
for very wantonness, a single dogfish often succeeding in wrapping 
himself up tightly in a 150 fathom net. The spike dogfish (squalis 
sucklii) and the tope shark (geleorhinus galeus) are the most 
common, and are found everywhere, and at all seasons, along the 
Coast. They are from two to five feet in length, and weigh from 
five to fifteen pounds. These creatures are exceedingly voracious 
and so destructive that on the Atlantic coast, where the spike 
dogfish is very common, the Dominion Government has established 
stations for their capture on a large scale, with a view to their 
extermination. At these stations the dogfish are converted into 
oil and fertilizers. On this Coast factories have been operated for 
years in utilising the dogfish, and the business is rapidly assuming 
importance, the output for 1908 being fifty-nine thousand dollars. 
The dogfish are very rich in oil, a very superior grade of lubricating 
and machine oil being extracted from the livers, while the bodies 
supply a large quantity of an inferior quality. The residue, after 
extraction of the oil, makes a good fertilizer. In addition to its 
value as an oil fish, the dogfish of the Pacific may yet become 
important as a food, for their good qualities in that respect have 
long been recognised in Norway, the Channel Islands, the Hebrides, 
and in Scotland, while recently several of the canneries in Nova 
Scotia and Prince Edward Island have been successful in putting 
canned dogfish on the market, which is said to be “superior to 
canned salmon.” One brand of canned dogfish masquerades as 
“Japanese mackerel,’ and finds a ready sale. 
OTHER OIL FISH. 
In addition to the dog fish, there are several other oil-bearing 
fishes, the principal of which is the ratfish (Hydralagus collioei). 
It is found in great abundance in places, and the oil procured from 
its liver is used for the very finest work in watches, gun-locks, 
sewing machines, etc. It is a very prolific oil-bearer, and should 
prove to be valuable as the basis of an industry. 
The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), is also plentiful in 
Queen Charlotte Sound during the summer months. It attains to 
a great size, is perfectly harmless, and so tame that while basking 
it may be touched by the hand. In England, 150 gallons of oil is 
the average yield of the liver, which alone is treated, but on the 
New England Coast the whole carcasses are utilised for the manu- 
facture of fertilizer. The production of fish oil and guano is 
inconsiderable, when the opportunities afforded for their manufac- 
ture are taken into account, the production for 1908 being: Fish oil 
