Musk in the grain is held dutiable as an unenumerated unmanufactured article and not as crude musk in the natural pod under the act of 1883. (T. D. 8962.)

Artificial musk, which chemically is tri-nitro-iso butylxylol, being the result of the combination of 106 parts of xylol, 74 parts of iso butyl alcohol, and 189 parts of nitric acid, the xylol being the only coal-tar derivative in the body, was held properly classified as a chemical_compound under paragraph 3 of the act of 1897, and not as a coal-tar product or preparation under paragraph 15. (G. A. 6148, T. D. 26693; T. D. 28582, suit 4123.)

In another case, in which additional evidence was offered on behalf of the importers, the artificial musk was similarly classified. (G. A. 7161, T. D. 31269; Magnus v. 1 Ct. Cust. Appls., 166.)

CIVET.

49.

hol,

GENERAL INFORMATION.

PROVISION IN THE ACT OF 1913.

civet,

* * * all the foregoing not containing alco20 per centum ad valorem.

DESCRIPTION AND USES.

Civet is an odorous substance obtained as a secretion from both the male and female of the civet cat. The civet cat of Africa (Viverra civetta) and the species found in the East Indies (V. zibetha) furnish the bulk of the civet of commerce, although occasionally supplies are received from Java, China, and the Malabar coast. Civet is an unctuous, semiliquid substance, yellowish in color, becoming brown on exposure to air, and of an unpleasant and bitter taste. The concentrated material has a very objectionable odor, but when diluted the disagreeable odor disappears, and it becomes a valuable fixative for perfumery.

Commercial civet is occasionally adulterated with vaseline or a fatty substance such as coconut butter. Substitutes are now produced synthetically which resemble civet in odor or in its fixative properties. These are available in liquid or crystalline form.

Civet is used exclusively in the manufacture of perfumery and cosmetics. It was formerly used to some extent in medicine.

The article shown in the import statistics under the caption "civet oil" is undoubtedly the same sort of material elsewhere classed as "civet." Civet itself is an oily semiliquid substance, but "civet oil" is not known to commerce or to science.

PRODUCTION AND TRADE.

There are a number of species of civet cats, of which the following are the more important: Viverra civella (African), V. zibetha (Indian), V. civellina (Malabar coast), V. megaspels (Burmese), V. tangalungo (Javan), and V. malaccenses (Chinese). The African civet cat furnishes the largest proportion of civet of commerce; its product is exported principally from Abyssinia. London, Paris, Hamburg, and New York are the principal markets.

The civet cat has two well-defined civet glands forming a deep pouch in the posterior portion of the abdomen. The pouch is divided into two sacs, each the size of a marble, in which the civet is secreted. The cats are kept in confinement for the purpose of collecting their civet, which is removed from the cats by means of a small spatula

at intervals of about four days. The male yields 1 to 13 drams and the female to 1 dram. Civet is packed in horns holding about 30

ounces.

IMPORTS.

Imports of civet in 1911 amounted to 27,086 ounces, valued at $7,850, and were admitted free of duty. In 1913 the quantity of civet imported was considerably less than in 1911, although the total value was more than double that in 1911. In 1914 and 1915 imports fell to about 2,200 ounces; in 1916, 1917, and 1918 the average annual import was about 9,500 ounces. During 1919 15,315 ounces, valued at $17,253, were received.

Imports classified as "civet oil" were reported during 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1918, and 1919, and ranged between 250 ounces, valued at $392, in 1914 and 5,181 ounces, valued at $7,365, in 1915.

As previously noted these imports are believed to be no different from the material elsewhere classed as "civet."

PRICES.

The

The price of civet has been remarkably stable for an imported perfume material. From January, 1912, until the outbreak of the European war civet was quoted at $1.50 to $2 per ounce. price then rose to $2 and $2.25, and this price obtained for three years. Since January, 1918, there has been a slight increase and prices have ranged between $2.25 and $3.25.

TARIFF HISTORY.

Crude civet was mentioned specifically on the free list of the act of 1883, and this provision was included in the free list of succeeding tariff acts until 1913. In the act of 1913 civet became dutiable at 20 per cent ad valorem.

TARIFF CONSIDERATIONS.

Civet presents no particular tariff problem. The natural material is not obtainable from domestic sources, and although synthetic substitutes are manufactured in this country they can not replace the genuine civet in all of its uses. The article is also unimportant from a revenue viewpoint; the maximum annual revenue received in 1919 amounted to $3,451.

Attention should be called to the provision for "civet oil." This material is not a recognized article of commerce, but is believed to be identical with civet itself. Both provisions carry the same rate of duty and accordingly there is no loss of revenue. To simplify and correct the classification for civet, however, the provision for "civet oil" might be omitted in future tariff revisions.

NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC ODORIFEROUS SUBSTANCES, PREPARATIONS, AND MIXTURES.

(Par. 49, Act of 1913, 20 per cent ad valorem.)

SUMMARY.

The articles discussed here are the odorous substances and preparations used in the manufacture of perfumes and cosmetics, described in the tariff as "all natural or synthetic odoriferous or aromatic substances, preparations, and mixtures used in the manufacture of, but not marketable as, perfumes or cosmetics." This provision included for the first time in the act of 1913 is so framed as to cover all nonalcoholic perfume materials other than the essential and distilled oils and the natural and chemical products elsewhere specifically provided for. The materials thus included are the products of two distinct branches of the perfume industry, viz, (1) the manufacture of the so-called synthetic aromatic chemicals, useful only as raw materials for perfumery, and (2) the blending and compounding of mixtures and preparations consisting of a number of chemicals or natural floral products, or combinations of both.

(1) The synthetic aromatic chemicals are definite chemical bodies which have been manufactured from other chemical products, such as the coal-tar distillates, or have been derived, directly or indirectly from the essential oils or similar natural products. They closely resemble and in some cases are chemically identical with the odorous principles of these natural materials. Others differ in chemical composition from the flower or plant constituents, but possess similar odors.

(2) The mixtures and preparations which comprise the second of the two classes of perfume materials are made up of a number of constituents blended together in the proper proportions to simulate the various flower odors. Certain of these mixtures are of known composition, but in most cases their formulæ are guarded as trade secrets. They are of widely different character and represent various degrees of manufacture. Some for instance, are highly manufactured in that the materials have been so completely blended and compounded that simply by adding alcohol they may be converted into finished perfume. This is not true in the case of the aromatic chemicals or of the essential oils, since these products must be blended or compounded with other perfume materials before a finished perfume can be obtained. In other words, the addition of alcohol is not sufficient to convert an aromatic chemical or essential oil into a commercial perfume. Practically every flower odor and essential oil is imitated with more or less success by a so-called "synthetic" or artificial product. In addition, the odors of certain flowers the lily of the valley, honeysuckle, sweet pea, lilac, and trailing arbutus-can not be extracted commercially from natural sources the flowers themselves-and must be produced synthetically. Other mixtures and compounded preparations used in large