Production of Isinglass on the Coasts of India. 105 



may melt, and be more extensively diffused through the membranous 

 structure, than would be the case in drying in the shade. Part of 

 the oiliness and smell may probably be removed by chemical reagents, 

 as lime and chlorine, but these should be with care, as their use is so 

 likely to leave a taint on the Isinglass, that it would be objected to 

 by manufacturers. Thus some Isinglass is employed for glazing 

 calicoes, and an attempt was made to substitute glue, but it was 

 found that the alum, of which the glue contains a trace, changed the 

 colours of the printed calicoes. 



The Indian Isinglass as at present prepared, is complained of 

 as too thick, if intended to come into competition with the superior 

 varieties of Russian Isinglass. Some of it may, without difficulty, 

 be rendered thinner, as even in the dried state, layers of membrane 

 may be stripped off, which display a fibrous structure, and which no 

 doubt contain the greater portion of the insoluble albumen. It 

 might also be made thinner by beating, or pressing between iron 

 rollers or marble slabs, as is done with American and some kinds 

 of Brazilian Isinglass, and then cut by machinery into a fit state 

 even for domestic use. The extra labour which this would require 

 might be profitably saved, by not tearing it into fibres, in which 

 state it is disapproved of in the market. The refuse might be 

 turned to account ; the soluble parts of the Sounds separated from 

 the insoluble, and poured out into thin plates and dried on nets, as 

 is done with some of the gelatine of commerce. 



By these means, or by others which will no doubt suggest them= 

 selves, when the objections to the Indian Isinglass are known, the 

 manufacturers will be able to improve it to the degree requisite 

 to enable it to occupy a permanent, as well as a high place among 

 the Isinglass imported into the principal markets of Europe. 

 Though the first quantities sent from India brought only Is. Jd., 

 others have been sold for 3s., and a few samples have been valued at 

 4s. per pound. Besides this opening for an extensive sale in the 

 European market, even in the present state we know there is always 

 a constant demand in China for the Isinglass of Bengal. These will 

 no doubt afford sufficient encouragement to persevere in the exten- 

 sion and improvement of this newly-established and highly promis- 

 ing article of the export trade of India to Europe. 



P 



