INTRODUCTION. X.wii 



manufacture. " The ' maws' arc roughly circular, two or three inclies in diameter, and somewhat 

 resembling a bad muffin." 



The Polynemus Indicus (p. GO) is also another of the isinglass producing fish, and is known 

 under the name of (Kora, Mai.) at Calicut. " Its maws are shaped somewhat like the blade of a 

 trowel, and from seven to eight inches in length, by two or three in width : they are not obtained 

 in nearly so large quantities as those of the Ye'la." 



There are other species of fish, as the Lutes calcarifer ; Lobotes surinamensis ; some species 

 of Sciana, &c. from which isinglass could be procured, but perhaps the small quantity which they 

 yield, and the troublo it would entail in procuring and preparing it, render them little used in 

 Malabar for this purpose. 



The " fish maws" of Indian commerce are the swimming bladder or sounds extracted from 

 the fish and dried in the sun. McClelland gives the following as the Bengal process : — "The 

 sounds when received fresh are opened and stripped of the vascular covering and internal mem- 

 brane, washed, and at once made up into any form the manufacturer finds most convenient for 

 packing." If dry before receiving it, it is steeped in water and the same process adopted. 

 For the removal of discoloured parts and softening the more solid without dissolving the thinner, 

 they are steeped a short time in alum water (consisting of alum 1 ounce to 4 or 5 gallons of water), 

 when saturated they are removed, spread on a linen or cotton cloth that has been saturated with 

 the same solution, then rolled up lightly and set aside for twelve hours, this is repeated till 

 they are bleached. It should be observed, bleaching neither improves the quality nor increases the 

 value of the article. 



The Indian isinglass is said, (by Dr. Eotle on Isinglass, at page 74) to be " essentially good, 

 " and its defects such as are easily susceptible of improvement by increased attention to the pre- 

 paration, so as to remove the present (1849) objection; and in fact some specimens (from India) 

 " being better prepared than others, proves that there can be no difficulty in preparing them all 

 equally well." ..." Its objectionable properties consist of its still retaining something of 

 " the fishy smell as well as being in part insoluble, apparently from some portion of the albuminous 

 " membranes still continuing adherent to the purer gelatinous parts. It is probable that by increased 

 "care in cleaning and drying, by exposure to air, some of these defects may be removed.'' (p. 37.) 

 Its thickness might be decreased by stripping off more of the outer membranes, and also by 

 beating and pressing between slabs and rollers. Bengal isinglass appears more fibrous, because the 

 middle and not the inner coat is used (but this is not a proof that the inner coat of the Polynemus 

 Indicus is the best), instead of being torn into shreds by the hand it might be rasped or cut, for 

 if in shreds doubts arise as to its genuineness, whilst it cannot be cut in India so evenly as is done 

 in Europe by machinery, therefore sending it home in sheets is the best. It should be prepared 

 when the fish is fresh, and under a light roof, because the action of the sun may melt any oily 

 particles, and diffuse them through the membraneous structure. Oiliness and smell may perhaps 



<i 



