HC Deb 17 July 1946 vol 425 c205W
80 and 81. Mr. M. MacMillan

asked the Minister of Food (1) if he will investigate the practicability of utilising the liver-oil and the fin-gelatine of the large numbers of basking sharks in Western Isles waters, in view of present oil needs and the heavy demands on gelatine;

(2) whether the oils extractable from the basking sharks in Western Isles waters are suitable for soap-making.

Mr. Strachey

The oil obtainable from the basking shark is a valuable source of vitamin A, and I should prefer to use any that can be obtained for this purpose rather than for soap-making. I shall be glad to investigate with the help of my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the possibility of further exploiting this source of liver-oil, and of recovering gelatine or glue from the fins.