1846 .] 
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
525 
finally, throughout the eastern islands, where the coral insects bleed. The Chinese 
junks go as far as Java and Borneo for the purpose of fishing for them, and, as the 
business is accompanied with much hazard and risk, the article is sold very high. 
Some American and Australian crafts have been engaged in this fishery, and also 
that of tortoise fishing, for many years, with good profit; but wo know of no ex¬ 
tension of the trade. The price ranges from eight dollars to one hundred and 
twenty dollars per picul, according to the size and quality and place of taking. 
The largest and cleanest are the highest in price. They are prepared for market 
by slightly salting and smoking until they become dry and hard. They are said 
to be very nutritious as an article of diet. I think if some of our sharp down east 
people would fit out small brigs for tiiis fishery, always carrying arms, it would be 
a source of much profit to the adventurers. Their voyage could be completed in 
eighteen months. 
If our Western farmers or merchants could afford to ship butter to India at low 
prices, say at six to eight cents, it would always meet an extensive demand there, 
as the consumption, under the name of ghee, is very great. The price'realized in 
India for an article such as is made for these prices, (it should be sweet, and if a 
little oily-does not matter,) would be from eleven to fifteen cents per pound. 
The Chinese are large consumers of pork, lard, and oil. If we can afford these 
articles at low prices, it might hold out inducements for them to purchase, but not 
without. Probably New South Wales will have the monopoly of these articles in 
the Chinese market, if they should become large consumers, as provisions are sold 
very cheap there now. Our lard oil might find a good market if sold low, but I 
have very little knowledge on this subject. New South Wales will be a keen com¬ 
petitor with other countries in a few years for articles for the Indian and Chinese 
markets which Western countries have heretofore furnished. If they can sell their 
copper cheap it will be used very extensively in India and China, and affect the 
value of our new copper mines in Wisconsin and Iowa. Copper obtains a very 
great consumption throughout the Eastern world. 
Hoping you may be able to cull some useful hints from these lengthy remarks, 
I have the honor to subscribe myself your obedient servant, 
HENRY T. JOHNSON. 
To Francis Markoe, Jr., Esq,., 
Corresponding Secretary National Institute, Washington. 
LETTER FROM SURGEON GENERAL LAWSON, 
Presenting to the National Institute a valuable collection of the birds 
of the United States , in the name of Dr. E. II. Abadie. II. S. A., by 
whom they were collected and prepared. 
Surgeon General’s Office, Washington, May 11, 1846. 
Sir : Under the discretion conferred upon me by Assistant Surgeon E. H. Aba¬ 
die of the army, who lately forwarded to this office a collection of the birds of the 
United States prepared by himself, “cither to form the nucleus of a cabinet for 
the Medical Department of the Army,” or to be presented “ in the name of the 
Medical Department of the Army to the National Institute or to any other scienti¬ 
fic institution,” 1 beg leave to offer them to the National Institute. 
From the enclosed list you will perceive, that the cabinet consists of nearly two 
hundred and fifty specimens, all, I believe', in a pretty fair state of preservation. 
In presenting this valuable collection of birds to the National Institute, I cannot 
do better than to accompany it with the communication of Doctor Abadie to my¬ 
self, in which he so handsomely surrenders into my hands for the benefit of the 
public, the fruits of his industry and care for many years. 
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, youi obedient servant, 
THOMAS LAWSON, Surgeon General. 
Francis Markoe, Jr., Esq., 
Corresponding Secretary of National Institute , Washington City . 
