238 Curing sardines. Chapt 



"are packed in baskets, 200 or 300 in each, wome 

 "ceive them, and with a dexterity acquired by pra 

 "they cut off the head, open the fish and clean oi 

 "interior with one cut; they are then tossed into 1 

 "where they are left for a few hours; and on beir 

 "moved they are thoroughly washed and then la: 

 "wicker panniers to dry, when dry they are plungec 

 "boiling oil, where they cook for some minutes; the 

 "then packed in the well-known tin boxes, filled wr 

 "and the lid soldered down. In order to ensure pi 

 "preservation, the boxes are boiled in water." 



In the same work the process of curing cod is h 

 noticed: "The fish are opened, the interior cleanec 

 "the liver being put on one side. The opened fish 

 "the vertebra taken out, and then they are salted, 

 "placed in vats, covered in salt, and submitted to 

 "sure; when taken from the vats they are washed 

 "move any impurities, and then exposed in long s 

 "or built up in stacks on the shore, in order to e 

 "them to the united action of the sun and wind, 

 "soon dry, and when they assume the white, bles 

 "appearance which is termed the 'bloom' they are 

 "for the market." 



"The livers are put in oak tanks, where they a 

 "lowed to decompose. The first oil which strains 

 "them is the codliver oil used in medicine; a s 

 "quantity is obtained by pressure, but this is of a 

 "er colour, and less valuable. 



