Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-09-14
WHALE BONE.
The Success Of Its Produotion---The Various Uses
TO Which 1t is Adapted---How the Seas Have
Been impoverished by the Fisherman.

The Success Of Its Produetion---The Various Uses
to Which 1t is Adapted--How the Seas Have
Been Impoverished by the Fisherman.
GFrom the Brooklyn Eagle.]
The whale is the largest fish that
swims in the sea, and it is probably the
most useful. It is. of course, captured
for it's oil, but there is part of it's body
which commerce has made extensive use
of to the enrichment of many men. In
the upper jaw of the whale are thin,
parallel lamin@, varying in size from
three to twelve feet in length. These
are called whalebone, and all above six
feet in length is called size bone, quail
ity which commands the highest price,
Whalebone once brought a very high
price, especially when hoopskirts were
more in fashion than they are to-day
The Dutch formerly paid So, 500 for a
ton OF whalebone, but since 1853 it has
never brought anything like that price.
In 1918 it brought $3.50 a ton; in 1884,
from $3.50 to $545, and in 1874 it varied
from 81 ,080 for southern and 81, $50 for
northern bone. AS the whale becomes
scarce, Of course whalebone will rise in
the market, and at present the Dutch
and the Scotch whalers are doing a very
poor business. The Americans also
the inventive genious of man is trying
whalebone, and 80 far they have
met with some success. Buffalo horn
has given great satisfaction, and
there is quite a similarity be-
tween the two substances. The horns,
after undergoing a special process, are
cut into strips, which are compressed
and Strengthened and rendered suitable
for any purpose by the dress-maker
Compressed cane has also been resorted
to as substitute for whalebone, but it
does not answer the purpose as well as
buffalo horn. In France whalebone is
fifteen francs the kilogram; that is to
say, it has tripled in price during the
last quarter of century. In 1853 the
quantity of bone brought into the
United States was $685. 300 pounds; in
1873 it was 100000 pounds; in 1880,
400, 900 pounds. In 1853 whalebone was
worth 80 cents per pound, in 1877, So. SO,
and at the present time it is said to be
selling at 81 per pound. In 1857 143
vessels comprised the Greenland feet,
and in 1877 only sixteen were sent out.
1t will be observed that the business
varies considerably from time to time,
and it seems pretty certain that the best
days of whaling are over for the present.
1t is said that nearly one-half Of our
whalebone is exported to France and
Germany. There is no doubt that there
is more whalebone consumed in Paris
than in any other city in the world, for
Paris carries off the palm in the manu-
facture of parasols, an article in the
making of which whalebone forms very
material part. Then there are walking
sticks and riding and driving whips,
canes, corset-bones, corset-clasps, husks,
hat-bone, suspender- bone, fshiDg-rods
and tips, landing -rods for nets, drill
bones, ferules, splints, brobangs, paper
cutters and folders, granting combs,
boot-shanks, shoe-horns, policemen's
loaded clubs, that require whalebone in
their composition.
The best whalebone is obtained from
the Greenland whale. From the mouth
of one of these monsters from 1000 to
5000 pounds are often taken. The
manufacture Of whalebone into articles
of use and ornament is not so extensive
as one might imagine. 1t is principally
confined to New York and Boston, four
manufactures being in the latter. When
the raw whalebone is first received at the
factory the hair is cut off the slabs.
They are then soaked in water until they
are soft, after which they are scraped of
all the gum that adheres to them. They
are next put in steam-box, where
workman Strengthens them with knife;
they are finally polished, and are then
ready to be made use of for any purpose
that the dresser may see fit. Whale
bone is used principally, nowadays, In the
manufacture OF whips and corsets. UNI
brella frames used to be made altogether
of whalebone, but since it's scarcity and
high price, steel is mostly used for this
purpose. Whalebone hats and whale
bone ribbon have just come into vogue
The former look very beautiful and are
very comfortable on the head.
Whales, like seals, do not get time to
grow, for they are slaughtered merciless-
~, young and old, in the pursuit of
wealth. The old ones are often killed
before the young are able to take care of
themselves, and the result of this cruelty
is loss of thousands and thousands of
whales and seals in year. Mankind
will have to be more careful in the work
of slaughter if it wishes to be better
compensated by these animals, and the
whale must be let alone for a few years
if the ladies are to have fine corsets and
the gentlemen fine walking sticks and
riding whips.