1846.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 525 



finally, throughout i.ho eastern islands, wlierelhecora) insects hieed. ThcCiiinese 

 junks go as far as Java and Borneo for the purpose of fishing for tlieni, uud, as tiie 

 business is accompanied with much hazard and risk, the article is sold very higli. 

 Some American and Australian crafts have heen engaged in this tislit^ry, and also 

 that of tortoise fishing, for many years, with good proSt ; but wo know of no ex- 

 tension of the trade. The price ranges from eight dollars to one liundred and 

 twenty dollars per picul, according to the size and quality and place of taking. 

 The largost and cleanest are the highest in price. They are preparrd for market 

 by slightly salting and smoking untd they hecome dry and hard. They are said 

 to he very nutritions as an article of diet. I think if some of our sharp down east 

 people would fit out small brigs fortius fishery, always carrying arms, it would be 

 a source of much profit to the adventurers. Their voyage could be completed in 

 eighteen months. 



If our Western farmers or merchants could aiford to ship butter to India at low 

 prices, say at six to eight cents, it would always meet an extensive demand there, 

 as the consumption, under the name of ghee, is very great. The price realized ia 

 India for an article such as is made for these prices, (it should be sweet, and if a 

 little oily does not matter,) would be from eleven to fifteen cents per pound. 



The Chinese are large consumers of pork, lard, and oil. If we can afford those 

 articles at low prices, it might hold out inducements for them to purchase, but not 

 without. Probably New South Wales will have the monopoly of these articles in 

 the Chinese market, if they should become large consumers, as provisions are sold 

 very cheap there now. Our lard oil might find a good market if sold low, but I 

 have very little knowledge on this subject. New South Wales will be a keen com- 

 petitor with other countries in a few years for articles for the Indian and Chinese 

 markets which Western countries have heretofore furnished. If they can sell their 

 copper cheap it will be used very extensively in India and China, and affect the 

 value of our new copper mines in Wisconsin and Iowa. Copper obtains a very 

 great consumption throughout the Eastern world. 



Hoping you may be able to cull some usefnl hints from these lengthy remarks, 

 I have the honor to subscribe myself your obedient servant, 



HENRY T. JOHNSO]^. 



To Francis Markoe, Jr., Esq., 



Corresponding Secretary National Institute, Washington. 



LETTER FROM SURGEON GENERAL LAWSON, 



Presenting to the National Institute a valuable collection of the birds 

 of the United States, in the name of Dr. E. H. Abadie, tl. S. A., by 

 whom they were collected and prepared. 



Surgeon General's Office, Washington, May 11, 1846, 



Sir : Under the discretion conferred upon me by Assistant Surgeon E. H. Aba. 

 die of the army, who lately forwarded to this office a collection of the birds of the 

 United States prepared by himself, "either to form tlie nucleus of u cabinet for 

 the Medical Department of the Army," or to be presented "in the name of the 

 Medical Department of the Army to the National Institute or to any other scienti- 

 fic institution," 1 beg leave to ofter them to the National Institute. 



From the enclosed list you will porcoivo, that tiie cabinet consists of nearly two 

 hundred and fifty specimens, all, I believe, in a pretty fair state of preservation. 



In presenting this valuable collection of birds to the National Institute, I cannot 

 do bettor than to accompany it with the communication of Doctor Abadie to my- 

 self, in which ho so handsomely surrenders into my hands for the benefit of the 

 public, the fruits of his industry and caro for many years. 



I have tho honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



THOMAS LAWSON, Surgeon General. 



Francis Markoe, Jr., Esq., 



Corresponding Secretary of National Institute, Wathinglon City. 



