168 



On East Indian Isinglass. 



villages, and about the end of November the article began 

 to come in, and continued to arrive in the proportion of from 

 one to three maunds a day for about six weeks, when we 

 found the whole amount furnished did not exceed 75 

 maunds, although the prices rose in consequence of compe- 

 tition towards the end of January to 50 and 55 rupees per 

 maund. 



The advices from England having arrived, the next object 

 was to improve the manufacture, and as pointed out in 

 Messrs. Cockburn's letter of 4th November 1840, to make 

 up the article in a state for home consumption. Our inter- 

 course being now fairly established with all " interests in the 

 trade," we became acquainted with a family who had been 

 in the habit of accompanying the fishermen for the purpose 

 of obtaining fresh fish sounds, which they pull out into 

 shreds in imitation of the European form of Isinglass as 

 described by Mr. Remfrey, page 32, in Dr. Royle's pam- 

 phlet, a form that appeared to be admirably suited to the 

 English market. 



Our fish sounds were, however, dry and hard, so that it 

 became necessary to bring them back to their original soft 

 state before they could be converted into the shredded state. 

 With this view, they were soaked in lime water for twelve 

 hours, and cleaned in the same manner as the Isinglass of 

 the first year 1839-40; in addition to this treatment, they 

 were next steeped in alum water a short time, and then 

 spread out on cotton clothes, also saturated with the same, 

 and rolled tightly up in the folds of the cloth, and left 

 overnight covered to prevent evaporation ; on opening the 

 damp cloths the following morning, the fish sounds were 

 found perfectly soft, as in the first instance when removed 

 from the fish, and such parts as were cleaned properly quite 

 white. In this state the Isinglass may be either pulled out 

 into shreds, or pressed as thin and flat as is desired, by 

 passing it between double rollers. After the manipulation 



