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LOFODEN  NORWEGIAN  COD-LIVER  OIL. 
Fully  sensible  of  the  great  natural  advantages  possessed  by 
these  islands,  Mr.  Moller  of  Christiania,  has  been  for  many 
years  desirous  of  introducing  into  general  use  a  superior  method 
of  preparing  the  oil.  Manufactories  following  his  suggestions 
are  in  operation  at  Lofoden,  Sondmore,  Christiansund  and  Fin- 
mark.  About  twelve  years  ago  he  endeavored  to  secure  the  re- 
sults of  his  process  by  means  of  a  patent,  but  without  success. 
The  government,  however,  recognized  the  superiority  of  his 
method  as  well  as  the  value  of  his  services  to  an  important 
branch  of  national  industry,  and  his  Majesty  the  King  of 
Norway  and  Sweden  was  pleased  to  confer  upon  him  the  Yasa 
Order. 
The  process  he  recommends  may  be  thus  described  : — The 
livers  are  to  be  treated  immediately  on  their  arrival  on  shore, 
being  less  than  one  day  old  ;  they  are  first  to  be  carefully  ex- 
amined, and  all  poor,  bruised,  small,  and  diseased  livers  rejected  ; 
all  gall-bladders  are  to  be  watched  for  and  removed  ;  the  selected 
livers,  all  of  large  size,  are  to  be  washed  in  several  waters  for 
the  purpose  of  removing  blood,  membrane,  and  all  other  impuri- 
ties. They  are  then  to  be  introduced  into  a  machine  which 
minces  them  into  very  small  pieces,  or  rather  reduces  them  into 
a  paste.  This  paste  is  then  to  be  transferred  to  an  apparatus, 
heated  externally  by  steam,  and  the  mass  cautiously  warmed  to 
100°  or  120°  Fahr.  ;  at  the  same  time  it  is  to  be  diligently 
stirred  and  pressed  with  large  wooden  spoons,  so  that  the  oil 
may  be  liberated  at  the  lowest  possible  temperature  consistent 
with  economic  results.  As  fast  as  the  oil  separates,  it  is  to  be 
withdrawn  ;  and  the  stearine  being  first  thrown  down  by  ex- 
posure to  a  temperature  under  40°  Fahr.,  it  is  to  be  filtered. 
After  filtration  it  is  considered  perfect,  and  may  be  put  forth- 
with into  barrels  and  bottles.  The  fresher  the  liver,  and  the 
lower  the  temperature,  the  clearer,  lighter,  and  sweeter  in  taste 
will  be  the  oil.  Livers  more  than  one  day  old  require  a  higher 
degree  of  heat. 
Three  barrels  of  liver  will  yield  one  barrel  of  the  finer  oils, 
and  a  quarter  of  a  barrel  of  dark  oil ;  but  these  proportions  are 
only  approximative,  for  the  results  will  always  vary  according  to 
the  temperature  employed  in  the  process.    The  best  oil  made  in 
