382 USEFUL WOODS OF THE ISLAND OF DOMINICA. 



mixed with sperm, or with, other sorts of oil, which is not so easy for the 

 consumer to detect. 



The cod-liver oil here treated of is manufactured from the liver of the 

 cod (Gadus Morrhua) found along the coasts of Nordruore, Sondmore, and 

 in the Lofoten islands. This is considered to be the best, the purest- 

 flavoured, and the most effective. Whether the oil prepared from the 

 codfish, which is caught later in the year off Finmarken, is equally 

 effectual, has not been ascertained ; but it is certain that it has a totally 

 different flavour, far from agreeable, which is said to proceed from the 

 " Lodden" (Osmerus arcticus v Melhtus grcenlandicus) on which it feeds, and 

 which is moreover used as bait in the codfisheries in these districts. The 

 flavour of this fish is disagreeable, and is considered to impregnate both the 

 flesh and liver of the codfish, and consequently the oil obtained therefrom. 



The oil prepared from the liver of the coalfish {Gadus carbonarius) does 

 not possess the pure flavour and peculiar properties of the cod-liver oil. 

 This fish is caught simultaneously with the codfish, and its liver is 

 frequently mixed up with the other, so that it is necessary to be on the 

 spot and to purchase the liver oneself to ensure having genuine cod- 

 liver oil. 



Thus it happens that the light yellow cod-liver oil sold in casks for 

 medical use, and of which so much is written in foreign newspapers, is far 

 from being the genuine cod-liver oil it is supposed to be, but is fre- 

 quently a mixture of cod and coalfish-oil. 



Christiania, March, 1862. 



THE USEFUL WOODS OF THE ISLAND OF DOMINICA. 



BY JOHN IMRAY, M.D. 



I regret much that I am unable from limited time, and other occupations, 

 to send a detailed report on the various articles forming our small collec- 

 tion sent to the International Exhibition. I have, however, drawn up 

 a catalogue of the woods of this country, with numbers corresponding 

 to the specimens. Their uses are detailed from such information as I 

 was able to collect. The catalogue is of course imperfect, but may be of 

 some service notwithstanding. The great staple of this island, as of all our 

 West India Colonies, is the produce of the cane, — sugar, rum, and molasses. 

 Formerly coffee was exported in quantity so great, as to be considered 

 almost its chief staple. Unfortunately a blight appeared on the coffee-trees 

 about thirty years ago, which has so completely ruined the plantations, that 

 scarcely more coffee is now produced, than suffices for the consumption of 

 its inhabitants. Our small contribution of the various productions of the 

 island, shows that this Colony is capable of producing many other articles 



