178 



On East Indian Isinglass. 



fish is dear, and provisions of all kinds often scarcely suffici- 

 ent for the population. 



The estuaries and western shores of the Persian Gulf 

 abound in shoals of what we now know to be a superior fish, 

 not merely as an article of food, but also superior in the 

 production of another article of high commercial value. 

 We have also found, that the same species is equally 

 abundant during the cold season along the western shores 

 of the Bay of Bengal, where up to the present time, it has 

 been almost entirely neglected. 



These two facts are of the highest practical importance, 

 We can infer from them, that the natives of the Malay Coast 

 may, if they like, contribute three lacks of rupees to their ex- 

 ports, the same as the people on the Coast of Malabar ; as 

 they have the same fish in the same vast shoals, and the 

 same means of fishing if they like to employ them, besides 

 the advantage of being so much nearer to China and the 

 Straits, hitherto the only market for fish maws. 



But as another market is now opened for this article in a 

 more improved and pure state, the fishermen may obtain 

 higher prices, and thus be enabled with European assistance 

 to bring improved means to bear upon their employment. 



We have estimated the quantity of fish taken on the 

 Malabar Coast annually from the amount of fish maws ex- 

 ported, to be upwards of 50,000 tons, of this probably not 

 above a 10th part is made available for the supply of food, 

 perhaps for want of salt. 



What we would here recommend is, that a premium be 

 allowed on salt fish, equal to the duty on the salt used 

 in curing it. It would also be desirable, that attention 

 should, if necessary, be directed to the production of salt 

 suited to curing provisions. The best salt for this pur- 

 pose, and which is used in England, is made in the south 

 of Europe from sea water by solar evaporation, and import- 

 ed as Foreign Bay Salt. But the native salt merely washed, 



