MORRHUA. 197 



best Russian, and applicable to all the uses for 

 which the imported is employed. The liver of 

 the cod, when fresh, is eaten by many with satis- 

 faction, but it is more generally reserved by fish- 

 ermen, for the sake of the large quantity of fine 

 limpid oil which it contains. This is extracted by 

 heat and pressure, and forms the well known cod- 

 liver oil of commerce, which, in many respects, 

 and for most uses, is superior to the commonly- 

 used fish-oil. The heads of cod-fish, after the 

 tongues are cut out, and the gills are saved for bait, 

 are thrown overboard, on account of want of room, 

 and because salting would not preserve them to 

 any advantage. Yet the head, being almost en- 

 tirely composed of gelatine, is, when fresh, the 

 richest, and perhaps the most nutritive part of the 

 fish. The fishermen, it is true, make use of it for 

 their own nourishment, but the great mass is 

 thrown into the sea — a circumstance we can 

 scarce reflect upon without regret, when we re- 

 member how many poor, in various charitable in- 

 stitutions, and through the country generally, might 

 be luxuriously fed with this waste. If vessels 

 were provided with the requisite implements and 

 fuel, these heads would furnish a large amount of 

 strong and valuable fish-glue or isinglass, that 

 would well repay the trouble and expense of its 

 preparation. 



