Around 1818, New York City required all fish oil bought and sold to be inspected and paid an inspection fee of $25. One day, a fish oil businessman bought three barrels of whale oil and intended to make whale oil into candles to sell. The fish oil inspector found that the whale oil had not been checked at all. Under the Fish Oil Act, the businessman had to be inspected and paid a fee. But the businessman claimed that the whale was not a fish and refused to pay the fee
At that time, most people engaged in scientific research were sure that whales were not fish, while lawyers and politicians disagreed.
he was taken to court. The jury finally upheld the plaintiff and ordered the businessman to pay a $75 inspection fee.