126 FKENCH MODE OF CURING SARDINES IN OIL. 



about six pounds weight of oil per barrel, worth Is. 8d, 

 per lb., or oil to the value of £35,000, 3s. 



FRENCH MODE OF CURING SARDINES (OR SPRATS) IN OIL. 



We now come to the second and more delicate mode of 

 preparation, the curing the sprats in tin boxes with oil, — 

 a mode which furnishes a delicious and wholesome food, 

 suitable for transportation to any climate. The sprats are 

 carefully washed in the sea and then carried to the curing 

 place, where they are slightly sprinkled with pure fine 

 white salt ; after remaining thus a few hours, women are 

 employed to take off the head, which brings away the 

 gills, &c., and after again well washing, they are laid out 

 either on willow branches or wire work, and exposed to 

 the sun and wind, or to a current of air, under cover, if the 

 weather is damp or rainy. This drying gives clearness 

 and pureness to the skin. They are then put into boiling 

 oil ; after being the requisite time in this oil, they are 

 drained as much as possible, and then put into tin boxes. 

 When the boxes are filled they are carried to tables pre- 

 pared for the purpose and covered with oil ; the tinsmith 

 then takes the boxes and solders on the cover ; the boxes 

 are then placed in the boiler, or exposed to hot steam, to 

 undergo the process of ebullition for such time as the 

 curer considers necessary. 



After being taken out, the boxes are examined, and 

 those rejected which have leaked, or not resisted the 

 pressure of boiling. 



Generally speaking, all the boxes that are not convex 

 on the two sides, when taken out of the heating process, 

 are bad, but the reverse is the case if the swelling in con- 

 vexity continues after the boxes have become cold. 



