Il» SuhJiituUs for Tallow. Soap ef Fijh. 



and is therefore to be drawn ofF by a pump or fyphon. The foap is now melted for the laft 

 time, with a fmall quantity of water, or what is better, weaic kelp ley ; it is then allowed to 

 cool for a fhort time, and afterwards call into frames. The melting with water is of con- 

 fiderabie importance, as it gives the foap a fmooth and compa<3: appearance, or what the work-: 

 men term a fkin. 



Having premifed this much with regard to the different kinds of foap, which are already 

 known, I will now proceed to conflder the plaufibility of a late propofal, for the manufaftur- 

 •ing of foap with fifh and tallow, or by ufing fifli alone, diflblvcd in potafli. 



Attempts have been made at diiferent times to procure a fubftitute for tallow ; but in no 

 inftance has it been attended with fuccefs. Several years ago, when the Greenland fifhery 

 was more confiderable than it is at prefent, foap manufacturers ufed a confiderable quantity 

 of oil, in making their hard foap; but the ftrong oily fmell foon deftroyed its fale, and feveral 

 foap-makers were fubjedled to confiderable lofs. It is to be regretted that this attempt was 

 not attended with fuccefs, particularly when we confider the great advantages which would 

 refult from the increafe of our Greenland fiQiery, by the diminution of the importation of 

 tallow from Ruflia*. 



During the courfe of the laft year. Sir John Dalrymple, Bart, one of the barons of ex- 

 chequer, obtained a patent in the name of John Crooks, for a new method of making foap. 

 He prcpofed to ufe the mufcular fibre of fifli in a certain proportion with tallow to make 

 hard foap, and to fubftitute it for oil in the manufacture of foft foapf. As this fcheme pro- 

 mifed to be of the greateft national importance, it was taken into confideration by the Houfe 

 of Commons. Soon afterwards. Sir John Dalrymple was examined by a committee of the 



owing to a method they employ of adulterating it, by burning along with the Salfola foda different fpecies 

 of fuci. In London, a barilla is made by mixing together Alicant barilla and kelp ; and this is termed Britilh 

 barilla. 

 ** The importation of tallow from RuflTia is ftated to be about one million fterling yearly. 



+ The difcovery of the converfion of the mufcular fibre into a fubftance refembling fpermaceti, has afforded 

 , room for confiderable fpeculation, as to the probable advantages mankind may derive from it. The amazing 

 number of animals killed in different countries, for the fake of their fkin and tallow, has been viewed as likely 

 to afford a means of procuring this fubftance at a cheap rate. A more plaufible method of rendering this in- 

 terefting difcovery of ufe, may be found in employing fifli in place of the mufcular fibre of land animals. la 

 Scotland particularly, this fpeculation defervcs attention, as the quantity of fith which fills our fea at different 

 times of the year is very great. Thus the herrings, which yearly arrive upon the coafts of Scotland, 

 would afford a great fource ef animal matter for this purpofe ; alfo, the dog- fifli, which are fo obnoxious to 

 fifliers, might be taken in immenfe quantities ; and after they had afforded their oil, might ferve for the pur- 

 pofe of affording fpermaceti. The coafts of Scotland are alfo happily conftituted for this branch of induftry, 

 owing to the number of running waters, which we find almoft in every quarter ; thefe might be eafily turned 

 in different dircflions, and employed to run over a great quantity of animal matter. The advantages at- 

 tending a fuccefsful cultivation of this difcovery in the Highlands of Scotland, are numerous and important ; 

 but they cannot be detailed here. It is an objeft worthy the attention of the Highland Society of Scotland, 

 which has already done much for the interefls of that part of the ifland. If premiums were offered witli this 

 view, we flieuld foon have the whole tried experimentally. 



Houfc 



