TIL whale oil was still in use, up until 1973, when an amendment to the Endangered Species Act was approved outlawing the practice. 30 million LB's of sperm oil were produced annually in the final years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_oil#Applications
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gkw3sf/til_whale_oil_was_still_in_use_up_until_1973_when/