106 Production of Isinglass on the Coasts of India. 



Seeing that so large a quantity as 800 or 900 maunds, of the 

 Sounds of Fish, that is of Isinglass, is exported from the neighbour- 

 hood of Calcutta, it is certainly remarkable that it should never have 

 attracted the attention of any one even as an object of curiosity. 

 Still more so that it should have escaped the notice of mercantile 

 men, as doubtless a knowledge of the fact, might have been turned 

 to profitable account. But now that it is known, those who are 

 interested in the improvement of the Resources of India, will not feel 

 satisfied with seeing a lucrative trade confined to one place, when 

 there is every probability that it might be profitably practised at many 

 points of the long extended coasts of the British Empire in India. 



It becomes desirable, therefore, to ascertain the points where the 

 fishes yielding Isinglass in the Hoogly and the Sunderbuns resort 

 to in shoals, such as at the mouths of the Irrawady and Burram- 

 pooter, at those of the Mahanuddy, Godavery, and Cauvery, or in the 

 Gulfs of Cambay and Cutch, and at the mouths of the Indus. Also, 

 whether there are not, in these situations, other fishes of which swim- 

 ming-bladders are at least as easily convertible into Isinglass. And at 

 the same time to inquire whether Isinglass or any similar substance is 

 at present exported, by the Chinese or others, from these situations. 



The fondness of the Chinese for all gelatinous substances is well 

 known, and has been described by all those who have visited their coun- 

 try and partaken of their banquets. In addition to employing, animals 

 and parts of animals which are rejected in other countries, as articles 

 of diet, they import various substances which can be valuable only as 

 yielding gelatine of different degrees of purity; of these we have exam- 

 ples in Agar- Agar, Tripang, Birds'-nests, Shark's-fins, and Fish-maws. 



The Agar-Agar is a species of Fucus or Seaweed, exported from 

 the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and is a portion of the cargo 

 of every junk. It forms a gelatinous mass with water, to which the 

 Chinese add sugar, and use as a sweetmeat. Another Sea- weed 

 (Gracillaria tenax) is imported in large quantities into Canton from 

 the coasts of Fo-kein and Tchekiang, and is supposed to be an in- 

 gredient of the Chin-chou glue or jelly. Another species, a native 

 of Ceylon (Gracillaria lichenoides), is also of a gelatinous nature ; 

 and after being washed in fresh water and pressed to remove the salt 

 and some mucilage, it is employed as a preserve. This is thought 



