Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-11
WHALEBONE.
The Sources Of Its ProdwctSon-The Yarinss
Uses to Which II rs Adapscd.

xHe oONfceS or LIS f1T00uct&O7t-zne tU2ttntS
| Uses to Witch II lis adopted.
| tFrom the Brooklyn Eaglal
The whale is the largest fish t'lat
swims in the sea, and is probably the
most useful. 1t is, Of course, captured
for its oil, but there is part of its body
which commerce has made extensive use
of to the enrichment of many men. In
the upper jaw of the whale there are
thin, parallel laminw, varying i'll size
from three to twelve feet in length.
These are called whalebone, and all
above six feet in length is called size
bone, quality which commands the
| highest price. Whalebone once brought
a very high price, especially when hoop
skirts were more in fashion than they
are to-day. The Dutch formerly received
So, 500 for ton of whalebone, but since
1853 it has never brought anything like
that price. In 1918 it brought $3.50
ton, in 1884 from $3.50 to $545, and in
1874 it varied from 81, Os0 for Southern,
and 81, $50 for Northern bone. AS the
whale becomes scarce, Of course whale
bone will rise in the market, and at
present the Dutch and the Scotch
whalers are doing very poor business.
The Americans also complain, and, now
that this is the case, the inventive genius
OF man is trying hard to find substi-
tute for whalebone, and, SO far, they have
met with some success. Buffalo horn
has given great satisfaction, and there's
quite similarity between the two SUBJ
stances. The horns, after undergoing
certain process, are cut into strips, which
are compressed and Strengthened and
rendered suitable for any purpose by the
dressmalaer. Compressed cane has also
been resented to as a substitute for
whalebone, but it does not answer the
purpose as well as buffalo horn. In
France whalebone is Is francs the
kiogram; that is to say, it has tripled
in price during the last quarter of cent
cry. In 1858 the quantity Of bone
brought into the United States was s.
652, 300 pounds; m 1873 it was 100, 900
pounds; in 1880, 400, 900 pounds. In
1858 whaIebone was worth IS cents
per pound, in 1877 $3.50, and at the
present time it is said to be selling
at 50 per pound. In 1857 143 vessels
comprised the Greenland fleet, and in
1877 only sixteen were sent out. It 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. It
IS said that nearly one-half of our whale
bone 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 manufacture
Of parasols, an article in the making Of
which whalebore forms very material
part. Then there are walking sticks and
riding and driving whips, canes, corset
bones, corset clasps, husks, hat-bone,
suspender.bone, fishing rods and tips,
landing-rods for nets, drill-bones, ferules,
splints, probangs, paper-cutters and fold
ers, graining-combs, boot-shanks, shoe
horns, policemen's loaded clubs, etc.,
that require whalebone In their con-
structien, OF that are made superior by
their having whalebone in their compo-
sition.
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 man
ufacture 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 former and
three 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 q work
man straightens them with knife they
are finely polished, and are then ready
to be made use Of for any purpose that
the dresser may see fit. Whalebone is
principally used, nowadays, in the man
afacture of whips and corsets. Umbrella
-ames used to be made altogether of
whalebone, but, since its 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 merci-
lessly, young and old, IN the pursuit OF
wealth. The old ones are often killed
before the young ones are able to take
care of themselves, and the result of this
cruelty Is a loss of thousands and thou
sands of whales and seals in a year.