96 



that's it ; 



to the air in order that they may 

 stiffen ; the outer skin is then 

 taken off and rejected, and the 

 remainder cut out and loosely 

 twisted into rolls, according to 

 the intended size of the pieces, 

 which are called staples, and are 

 known in commerce by the name 

 of long and short staple. The 

 best sort of isinglass is used for 

 the table and in confectionary ; 

 it is also largely employed in 

 refining wine, beer, and other 

 liquids. Certain fish, as the cod, 

 seal, etc., yield an oil, which 

 is not only found useful for the 

 purposes of illumination, but is 

 also extensively employed in the 

 arts and manufactures. The 

 cod-liver oil which has recently 

 obtained much notoriety as a 

 medicinal agent has become an 

 important article of commerce. 

 The Newfoundland fisheries, 

 whence the oil is derived, are 

 entirely carried on in small boats, 

 which go out early in the morn- 

 ing and return about four in the 

 afternoon. The fish, on landing, 

 are split open, and the livers de- 

 posited in tubs holding seventeen 

 or eighteen gallons each. These 

 tubs are afterwards collected from 

 the various "fish-rooms," and con- 

 veyed to the manufactory. The 

 livers are here thrown into tubs 

 filled with clean c61d water, and 

 after being well washed and picked 

 over, are placed on galvanized iron- 

 wire sieves to drain. They are next 

 put into covered steam-jacket 



Eans, and submitted to a gentle 

 eat for about three-quarters of 

 an hour, after which the steam 

 is turned off, cold air again ad- 



mitted, and the whole allowed to 

 repose for a short time, during 

 which the livers subside, and the 

 oil separates and floats on the 

 top. The oil is then skimmed off 

 into tin vessels, and passed 

 through flannel strainers into 

 tubs, where it is left to subside 

 for twenty-four hours. From 

 these the purer upper portion of 

 the oil is run into a very deep 

 galvanized-iron cistern, and again 

 left to clarify itself for a few days. 

 It is now further refined, by care- 

 fully passing it through clean 

 and very stout moleskin filters, 

 under pressure. The transpa- 

 rent filtered oil is received in a 

 clean galvanized-iron cistern, con- 

 taining a pump, from which the 

 casks are filled for exportation. 



Fish may also be said to sup- 

 ply us with whalebone and amber- 

 gris, in both of which an exten- 

 sive and important commerce is 

 carried on. Although the whale, 

 as has already been explained, is 

 not a true fish, it is so regarded 

 in a commercial, but not a scien- 

 tific point of view. 



Thus we find that, whether in 

 the air, the waters, or on the earth, 

 God has provided ample suste- 

 nance for man, and afforded, in 

 an endless variety of ways, occu- 

 pation for his skill and industry. 

 In all His works, consummate 

 wisdom, and unlimited power are 

 witnessed. The contemplation 

 of nature, exalts our ideas of 

 the Creator, and makes our, 

 journey through life a . constant* 

 approach to the great Author 

 of our being. 



