New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-12


emcient in leather dressing, etc. By bleaching
the oils semi-solid fat, known as sperm SOAP"
whale SOAP" "menhaden SOAP" etc, according
to the variety of oil treated is produced. This
material is used in smearing sheep. washing
fruit trees, soap manufacture. etc. By refining
sperm oil spermaceti is obtained, and this is
used principally in candle making, as an ONT
ment for medicinal purposes, for producing
polish on linen in laundering, and for self-lubri
eating cartridges.
After the oil is extracted the resulting scrap
or refuse, is dried and sold as fertilizer. Other
aquatic products used IN preparing fertilizer
the horseshoe crab of the Delaware Bay and the
shells of Holsters and shrimp. seaweeds are
also used extensively in New-England and the
Middle Atlantic States for this purpose. The
Malays consider the remora powerful manure
for fruit trees and use it just 1t comes from
the water.
From the skins of aquatic animals is OBJ
tanned about 80 per cent of the worlds stock OF
furs. The more important of these are the fur
seal, mink muskrat, beaver, otter and sea otter.
Leather is prepared from the hides OF nearly
all aquatic animals principally the seal, whale.
porpose, alligator and walrus. The use OF
these hides is almost as old man himself,
and they have ever been most eagerly sought
after for the many uses to which they could
be put after being prepared as leather. AT the
time of the Russian occupation Of Alaska they
made great Of walrus hides. Furs were
usually wrapped up in these skins and when
they reached Kiachta. China, the great mart Of
those days, the skin was sewed over chests or
tea. On arrival at Moscow the soundest por-
lions were removed, cut up and stamped into
kopeCkS and a variety of small change. This
formed the chief currency Of Alaska for time.
The Russians also made harness OF walruS
leather, while the natives of Alaska used the
skin as a covering for their boats.
A Queerer KIND or leather, however comes
from the bodies of fishes. An extremely fine
quality of green leather made In Turkey Is man
ufactured from the skin of an ugly fish called
the angel fish. The sword grips Of the German
army are made from shark leather, which is
beautiful in pattern, being marked with dark
diamond shaped figures. This skin comes from
North Sea shark called the diamond shark
Leather manufacturers have tried to produce a
substitute from animal hides, but in vain Unlike
animal leather, fish leather Is absolutely imper-
| vious TO water and never gets soggy from damp
| ness. Therefore it is ideal for sword grips. as
| no matter how much the hand may perspire
| the grip remains hard and dry.
Leather is made from the skin of the Pacific
| Coast and Great Lakes sturgeon, which is ex-
ceedingly tough and is used in making laceS for
| joining leather betting. In Canada the skin OF a
| species of siluroid is used in making gloves.
The garhsh, an American freshwater fish with
long -toothed jaws like those Of crocodile, has q.
| skin that be polished smooth until il has
| a finish like ivory. 1t makes beautiful jewel
| caskets and picture frames. This skin used to
| be converted into armor by some tribes OF
American savages, and the hide is tough and
hard that 1t makes breastplate that can turn
a knife or spear. Some of the finer specimens
| that have been found are hard enough to turn
| even blow from q tomahawk. The savages
| who wore this fish arnor also used to wear a
| fish helmet. 1t was made from the skin of the
| prickly porcupine fish, and, besides protecting
| the wearer's head il was used as a weapon OF
| offence The warriors butted their enemies with
1t, and, as 1T had hundreds of ironlike spikes the
! operation was especially painful to the object
| of attack.
In Gloucester. Mass. the skin of the humble
| cod has been utilized with success for making
leather for Shoes and gloves. In Egypt men
! walk on sandals made from the skins OF certain
Red Sea fishes. while in Russia the peasants
trim certain or their costumes with the
| skins Of the turbot. Bookbinders both
| in Europe and America. occasionally bind
INTO WHIPS a certain concern IN Connecti-
cut using thousands of skins each year
for this purpose. 1t is also used In clarifying
| coffee In Siberia the natives often wear brill
| liant leather garments dyed red and yellow
| made from salmon skins. Frog skins are also
| used both in France and the United States in
| making cardceses and other small leather arti-
| cles. In Greenland the natives make bags and
other articles from the skin OF Of the largest
| or the blennies while IN Russia the skin OF the
turbot and eel Is dried, and, after being oiled Is
used as glass IN the huts OF the poorer classes.
Fish skins are employed IN making the
choicest glue. while isinglass is made from the
sounds, or swimming bladders, of sturgeon hake,
co., squeteague, etc. and Is employed in clarity
| Ing fermented liquors. for making jeies and
| soups. and incidentally as a demulceut either
| externally or internally.
] oyster and other shells are employed In the
| manufacture of excellent lime. while large guam
| ties of finely cracked oyster shells are fed to
domestic fowls in order to increase their egg
laying powers.
| Among other miscellaneous products obtained
from aquatic animals may be noted the follow
! ing:
Ambergris, waxlike substance peculiar to
| the sperm whale, and produced. IL is supposed
by diseased condition OF the animal. single
| whale has yielded $4,000 worth OF this ma
| terial. IL IS very rare and exceedingly costly
! II was formerly used incense, in cookery
as a medicine and perfume It's principal
use at present is I'm the preparation of fine
perfumes
Whalebone. which is obtained from the jaw