Big Pine Key Shark Factory

Big Pine almost started a new Keys industry in 1923. Increased uses of shark oil sparked Hydenoil Products to build a shark oil plant on the Atlantic shore. The plant geared up and employed 25 men and operated 6 fishing boats. By 1930 they caught and processed an average of 100 sharks daily. On December 8, one of its seven boats brought in a 14 long and 10 foot in girth mackrel shark that weighed 1,752 pounds. That day the fleet brought in 111 sharks averaging over 300 pounds each. Little of the shark was wasted, but the odor was quite strong. Shark leathers was sold by the Ocean Leather company. The livers were processed for oil and the fins sold for soup. The plant closed in 1931 after eight years of operation owing employees back paid salaries. WW-II shut off the US supply of cod liver oil and shark oil. Plants were attempted on other Keys, but they too were short lived.

More Big Pine Key History here.

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