THE STURGEON. 81 



On making isinglass. 



slimy sordes, divested of every thin membrane 

 which envelopes the sound, and then exposed to 

 stiffen a little in the air. In this state they are 

 formed into rolls about the thickness of a finger, 

 and in length according to the intended size of 

 the staple : a thin membrane is generally selected 

 for the centre of the roll, round which the rest 

 are folded alternately, and about half an inch of 

 each extremity of the roll is turned inwards. 

 The two dimensions being thus obtained, the two 

 ends of what is called short staple, are pinned to- 

 gether with a small wooden peg : the middle of 

 the roll is then pressed a little downwards, which 

 gives it the resemblance of a heart shape ; and 

 thus it is laid on boards, or hung tip in the air 

 to dry. The sounds, which compose the long 

 staple, are longer than the former; but the ope- 

 rator lengthens this sort at pleasure, by inter- 

 folding the ends of one or more pieces of the 

 sound with each other. The extremities are fas- 

 tened with a peg like the former, but the middle 

 part of the roll is bent more considerably down- 

 wards ; and, in order to preserve the shape of the 

 three obtuse angles thus formed, a piece of round 

 stick, about a quarter of an inch diameter, is fas- 

 tened in each angle with small wooden pegs in 

 the same manner as at the end*. In this state it 

 is permitted to dry long enough to retain its 

 form, when the pegs and sticks are taken out, 

 and the drying completed; lastly, the pieces of 

 isinglass are colligated in rows, by running pack-' 

 VOL. v. NW. 32. L 



