Official papers on Isinglass. 451 



entering cannot return; the fisherman being seated above 

 the trap, is made aware of the fish entering, by its striking 

 against a string which he holds, and which is fastened in the 

 narrowest part of the bamboo trap ; the bottom part is fur- 

 nished with a moveable platform attached to a lever which 

 the fisherman controls, and on elevating the lower end 

 of the lever to which the outer end of the moveable plat- 

 form is attached, the fish is thus brought within reach 

 of the fisherman and secured. These fish frequent the 

 mouths of rivers, preferring the brackish water to the sea ; 

 they are considered wholesome food, the Ka-tha-bouce espe- 

 cially being much esteemed. 



During the rains the sound is seldom procured suffici- 

 ently dried, owing to the humid state of the atmosphere, 

 and many are lost in consequence of breeding worms and 

 becoming perfectly black ere it has had time to harden. 



From the circumstance of the article never having been 

 noticed before s it is difficult to say, what quantity could be 

 procured during the year ; my proposition to the head 

 fisherman of advancing funds for the purpose of inducing 

 people to erect a number of stakes or traps, appeared to 

 meet with his concurrence, and he states about 500 viss as 

 the probable amount which might be thus secured during the 

 dry season, (November to May inclusive). I suggested the 

 opposite shore of Beloo Kyioun, as being a more likely 

 haunt of the larger kinds of fish, owing to the numerous 

 sands and shoals in its vicinity, besides being more centrally 

 situated in the estuary formed by the rivers Salween and 

 Sitang, to which he assented, and purposes commencing 

 operations there. This effected, it may reasonably be 

 expected that 2,000 lbs. will be the minimum quantity pro- 

 cured. 



The Burmese do not use the sound, either in its raw 

 state, or when dried; and the few procured from the fish 

 casually obtained by the fishermen, are dried and sold to 

 the resident Chinese, the price ranging from 1 rupee to 1 £ 



