248 On the Manufacture of Salt in India. 



opinion, that the different properties ascribed to them, de- 

 pend partly on their mechanical effects. Thus the large- 

 grained salt is peculiarly fitted for the packing of fish and 

 other provisions — a purpose to which the small-grained salts 

 are much less suitable. " That kind of salt which possesses 

 most eminently the combined properties of hardness, com- 

 pactness, and perfection of crystals, will be best adapted to 

 packing fish and other provisions, because it will remain 

 permanently between the different layers, or will be very 

 gradually dissolved by the fluids that exude from the provi- 

 sions ; thus furnishing a slow but constant supply of saturated 

 brine. On the other hand, for the purpose of preparing 

 pickle or of striking the meat, which is done by immersion 

 in a saturated solution of salt, the smaller grained varieties 

 answer equally well, or even better, on account of their 

 greater solubility."* 



In consequence of the northern situation of the British 

 Islands, the whole of the salt there manufactured is neces- 

 sarily made by boiling or evaporation by artificial heat, and 

 the rapidity with which the liquor is concentrated by this 

 means, and the low temperature of the climate, the crystals 

 are rapidly formed ; hence the salt itself is generally fine 

 grained. In consequence of the latter peculiarity, a pre- 

 ference has been long given to what is called foreign bay 

 salt, for the purpose of curing provisions. The foreign 

 bay salt is produced from sea-water in the southern parts of 

 Europe, by solar evaporation, or by means of sun and air in 

 small pits to which it is confined, and in consequence of the 

 slowness and uniformity of the process by which it is formed, 

 the crystals are large, and hence great sums of money are 

 annually paid to foreign nations, for the importation of this 

 salt to Great Britain, for the purpose above stated. 



The British salt in repute for salting provisions intended 

 for exportation, is the Cheshire large-grained, ox fishery salt. 



* Dr. Henry's Philosophical Transactions for 1810, p. 105. 



