616 Correspondence. 



Dr. Wallich concludes his list by these words — " On the above co-operation, ex- 

 hibiting an unparalleled instance of zeal and liberality in the promotion of a com- 

 mon cause, 1 can offer no comment, nor can I adequately express the gratitude 

 which 1 feel towards those who have thus generously relieved me from some of the 

 most difficult parts of my labour."! ! ! 



Extract of a Letter from W. Lewis, Esq. Assistant Resident, Penang, 

 to J. M'Clelland, dated 25th October, 1845. 



" Referring to your exertions for the introduction of Indian manu- 

 factured Isinglass, I send by Dr. Scott of your service,' an air-bladder 

 of a fish, I fancy of the Polynemus, brought from Rangoon. It 

 weighs 18J oz. and beats all I have before seen. Captain Bogle, in 

 the "Calcutta Journal of Natural History," page 615, of Vol. II. 

 staggered me no little, in quoting the dried air-bladders at 8 oz. and 

 averaging them at 4 and 5 oz. ; but this one I send beats all. Dr. 

 Royle, I see, averages the best Russian Isinglass, (vide page 16, of his 

 Notices) 1\ lbs. for 1000 fish, which would be only 4^ oz. each fish.* 



" I have been doing all I can to get the merchants here to do 

 something in Isinglass, but I fear there is too small a field for it. 

 It would however surely be worth while for Officers under Government 

 on the different seaport stations in India, to instruct the natives 

 how to cure fish maws for the English market, by which they would 

 readily get 50 to 75 per cent, more than they do by preparing it 

 merely for the China market. I saw some lately from Nagore 

 (Coromandel coast) very large and fine, selling for 66 rupees the 

 pecul, or 133 lbs. avoirdupoise, say two lbs. for a rupee, which I have 

 no doubt would sell for three shillings in England. 



" I bought a little of it as it was very clean, but smelt slightly ; and 

 requested a Broker in England to give me a particular report on it. 



" The highest I have obtained for muster cured by myself here, 

 say 1000 lbs., was 3s. 2d. per lb. clear of duties. This did not cost 

 20d. per lb. including freight, insurance, &c. But the most profitable 

 here would be the kind procured from the Siluroid (Pimelodus Gagore,) 



* The Suleab, or Polynemus sounds are sold by the score ; 10 score to the maund 

 of 160 lbs. which gives an average weight of 12J oz. to the sound of each fish. We 

 have one from Arracan, which weighs 1 lb. 12 oz.— Ed. 



