Correspondence. 617 



which in England is classed as " honey-combed :" it can be landed 

 in London for nine-pence per lb. A sample I met in 1844, above 100 

 lbs., sold for 2s. 8d. per lb. Of this 2500 to 3000 lbs. can be procured 

 here per annum. 



" I am sorry I have not kept the largest of my specimens beat out, 

 but some were from 28 to 31 inches, weighing 3 oz. 6 drams to 3-12 

 each. This specimen from Rangoon, if it had been perfectly cleaned, 

 would I dare say have weighed 1 6 oz.* 



" The Brokers write me, that the Brewers do not wish the Isinglass 

 to be beat out, but prefer it as hitherto bottle- shaped, tongue-shaped, 

 or as a purse, but divested of all vascular membranes and smell. f 



" The Siluroid although exported by the Chinese, is not used in their 

 food, but forms a chief ingredient in the manufacture of a kind of 

 felt cap used in the more northern parts of China. It is in shape 

 like the sailor's red woollen cap, used here generally by Chinese 

 fishermen, who are much exposed in fishing with nets. 



" The large Bolah sample weighs 1\ oz. Very few of these are to 

 be got here. It has been cured by my Chinaman very carelessly, but 

 is free from bad odour. 



" I send you some specimens prepared by me. The Broker says, 

 they are the finest yet sent from India." \ 



* They ought to lose very little in cleaning; what they are in danger of losing 

 is the purer part, this being soluble by washing, while the impurities are not 

 to be thus removed. — Ed. 



f The bottle or purse-shape is incompatible with the purity of the article, as it 

 is necessary to open the sound in order to strip it of the inner vascular lining. 

 For the latest method of preparing Indian Isinglass, see the last Quarterly Report 

 of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce. — Ed. 



X The specimens forwarded by Mr. Lewis are all very good, and some of them 

 very clean and well prepared. We shall forward them to the Chamber of Com- 

 merce, to be placed with the other specimens there deposited, and trust his valu- 

 able observations may aid in directing attention to the subject. — Ed. 



