BECHE-DE-MER. 277 



the meantime considerably altered its appearance ; its size is 

 reduced, and it is no longer slimy. It looks like a piece of 

 cowheel or bacon-rind of a dark colour. It is usual at this 

 stage to spread out each separate slug by means of spanners, 

 or little bits of stick, inserted transversely into the under side, 

 which have the effect of keeping it flat and preventing it from 

 curling up during the curing process, so that it dries up more 

 rapidly and completely. It is then laid upon the drying stages 

 already described, and fires are lighted underneath it of damp 

 and sappy wood, in order to produce a dense and pungent 

 smoke. By this plan the beche-de-mer, if a strong smoke be 

 kept up, will cook effectually in forty-eight hours, or at the 

 outside in three days. It must be turned at least once. Some 

 people take out the teeth, but this is wholly unnecessary, as 

 they dry up to the consistency of chalk, and do not in any way 

 affect the value of good beche-de-mer. Another method of pre- 

 paration is by boiling it in the great trypots which are used by 

 the whale-fishers. It is boiled twice in salt water, about ten 

 minutes each time. This is the more expeditious way of cook- 

 ing, but it necessitates a longer smoking, as it will not cure 

 thoroughly after it in less than eight days, and after all never 

 resists the damp so well as that which has been steamed in the 

 oven. A third and most effective system is to put the beche-de- 

 mer into a hogshead, or close box, into which a steam-pipe is 

 introduced from a boiler. This is a very expeditious plan, and 

 most to be recommended. When sufficiently smoke-dried, the 

 fish is packed into strong baskets of nikau (or palm leaves). 

 These are not stitched up to the time of shipment, for the 

 reason that it is desirable to occasionally spread it out and give 

 it the advantage of a scorching sun, as its preservation depends 

 entirely on its being thoroughly dried. When properly cured 

 it should be of the consistency of sole-leather, and unless this 



