384 



itiratifit if nfts. 



Albumen from Fish Spawn. — Some years ago La Societe 

 Industrielle, at Mullhausen (Alsace) offered its gold medal for the 

 invention of some substitute for albumen prepared from ben's eggs, 

 and further 17,800 francs as a remuneration for the first manufac- 

 ture on a large scale of such a substitute. This prize was gained in 

 1860, by J. G. Leuchs, of Niirnberg. Mr. C. J. Sahlstrom, of Jonkoping, 

 Sweden, purchased the "patent right of manufacture for Sweden, and 

 received a medal at the International Exhibition of 1862, " for novelty 

 and importance of albumen extracted from fish-roe." The albumen 

 thus made is a complete substitute for that of eggs, contains even less 

 water, and is much cheaper, being sold at 2s. 4-|d. per lb., avoirdupois. 

 For certain purposes the fat is separated from the albumen, which then 

 no longer retains the smell of raw fish ; the fat is used for grease. 

 The residue of tbe fish spawn, after the albumen is extracted, is used in 

 the manufacture of ammonia, prussiate of potash, &c. 



The Oil Trade. — Since the article on the vegetable oils of com- 

 merce, in preceding pages, was printed off, the Board of Trade returns 

 for the year 1860 have been issued, and from these we find that, with the 

 exception of cocoa-nut oil, the imports of all kinds were very large last 

 year, as will be seen by the following comparative figures : — 



Train 



Palm 



Cocoa-nut 



Olive 



Seed oil 



Oil of turpentine cwts. 



The palm oil imports are larger than in any preceding year, and 

 hence prices are somewhat lower. We may mention incidentally 

 that an enhanced value has been given to palm-nut oil, from the dis- 

 covery that in the process of soap-making, it has the property of absorb- 

 ing more " liquor," or water, than other oil used. The price of cocoa-nut 

 oil rules higher than at any period for the last seven years. Ceylon 

 oil fetching 521., and Cochin 571. per ton. 



Petroleum, or rock oil, but imperfectly known twelve months ago, 

 has forced itself into a position of great importance, not only here, but 

 on the Continent, and in our colonies, notwithstanding every impedi- 

 ment thrown in the way of its transit and storage, and large as the trade 

 has already become, we consider it to be still in its infancy. The im- 

 portation into London last year was 28,335 barrels ; to Liverpool, 

 39,309 barrels, and to Glasgow, 650 barrels. The total exports to Europe 

 from America, 257,914 barrels, or 10,318,658 gallons. 





1861 



1862 



tons. 



19,176 



18,264 



cwts. 



740,332 



865,890 



cwts. 



274,992 



170,485 



tons. 



17,325 



21,095 



tons. 



8,873 



11,201 



cwts. 



100,296 



66,632 



