the intestines of other animals, commonly called cat-gut, and from some trials, promised superior advantages when applied to mechanical operations.

REMARKS.

TOOKE informs us, that besides the sturgeon and other fish, Isinglass is made from the sounds of shad in Russia, but that it is of an inferior quality. They are pounded, and as the glue does not entirely dissolve, it is strained, and the filaments separated from it. The experiments might be made with the sounds of the large shad, in the rivers of the United States.

The manufactory of Isinglass might become a very profitable branch of business to the people in the vicinity of our great rivers, in which sturgeon and shad abound. For it appears that before the revolutionary war, premiums were offered in England for Isinglass made from the fish of the colonies; in consequence of which several specimens of fine Isinglass were sent to England, with certificates as to the unlimited quantity that might be procured.

The sounds and tongues of codfish are carefully preserved on the Banks of Newfoundland, and put up together in kegs. The value of these is comparatively small with that of the article in question. If therefore the sounds be found to answer the purpose of making Isinglass, the alteration in the mode of preparing them may prove very profitable to the New England fishermen. A first or second experiment may not succeed; but the ingenuity of our countrymen will readily overcome the difficulty attending a new process; and the prospect of ample remuneration for their trouble will doubtless cause the attempt to be made.

During the late embargo in the United States, Isinglass rose to the enormous price of ten dollars per lb. and although it is probable that the same cause will not soon operate again, yet the political events of the continent of Europe may occasion another scarcity. There is every reason, therefore, to think that the manufacture of the article will pay well.

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Good Isinglass is esteemed the finest and purest specimen of animal gelatin. It is without smell or taste, and entirely dissolves in warm water, forming the clearest and most colourless of all the known jellies.

Uses. An excellent cement for joining glass may be made by evaporating the jelly of Isinglass to a proper consistence. The coarser sorts of fish glue, dissolved in water, are used as common glue. The finer sorts are much used in confectionary and for clarifying malt liquors, and wines. For these purposes many tons weight are annually exported from Russia to all parts of Europe and the United States. Cider too, is best clarified by Isinglass; the process shall be given hereafter.

CAVIAR.

THE roes of sturgeon might also be profitably applied to the making of caviar, which is a favourite food in Russia, and a very important staple article of export.

The best caviar is made from several kinds of sturgeons, the sevruga, and belugas, &c. The two latter are not found in the United States. Much of the caviar of Russia goes to Italy, and some to England. In some years the amount is from 15,000 to 20,000 poods.* The best sort, or grained caviar, is made in the following manner, according to Tooke. The cleansed roes are salted in long troughs, with eight or ten pounds of salt to the pood, well mixed by shovelling it over and over, then put by portions into sieves or thick nets stretched out, to drain and to coagulate, on which it is immediately pressed into casks. The cleanest and best sort is that which to appearance consists entirely of the eggs of the roes, and does not easily become fœtid. The first thing to be done is to get ready a strong brine, then long narrow bags of strong linen: these are half filled with fresh roes, and filled to the top by pouring in the brine.. When the brine has oozed through, the bags hanging on transverse poles, are powerfully wrung with the hands one after another; and the

* A pood is 36 lbs. English. EDIT.

roes, after drying for ten or twelve hours in the bags, are put into small casks.

Caviar is also prepared by taking all the nerves or strings out of the spawn, washing it in wine vinegar, or spreading it on a table; then salting and pressing it in a bag; after which it is put into a vessel perforated at the bottom, to allow the moisture to run out if any should remain. It somewhat resembles in taste the essence of anchovies. For an account of the value of caviar

às an article of export, see Domestic Encyclopedia.

On the Encouragement given to the MANUFACTORY OF FINE CLOTH, by the Legislature of New-York, in a letter from R. R. Livingston, Esq.

SIR.

Clermont, August 5, 1809.

I have received your favour of the 20th July, and am much gratified to learn that the efforts of your society for the improvement of cattle are likely to be attended with success. This state affords some very fine descendants of Bakewell's stock, and we are beginning to give attention to their extension, particularly in the western part of it, where the pastures are very fine. I think with you, that the cattle of Europe do not degenerate here, except by neglect and not preserving the races pure-both of these evils will be remedied by the emulation which your society will excite. I am much pleased that you have found the samples of wool* worthy the attention of the Cattle Society. I am persuaded that its quality has improved under my care, though the original stock was of the finest that could be procured in Europe. The women, who are now spinning some of it, and who spun the fleeces of my full-bred sheep last year, declare that it is finer and better than it was; it certainly is more abundant. I am not surprised that your Merino wool has not yet found'its price. When the supply is small and irregular, the manufactures do not pre

Mr. L. had sent to the Editor, two samples of his full-blooded Merind ram's wool, which were exhibited at the Cattle show, in July last.

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pare the machinery necessary for its manipulation, and private families, not being in the habit of working it, do not know how to wash or card it. The same process that is used for common wool, runs it into knots and spoils it entirely. The first fleeces I sold was in 1806, for till I returned from France in 1805, the sheep I sent over three years before, were neglected, and did not increase; it then fetched only one dollar for the full-bred, and sixty cents for the rest of the flock, consisting of and bred sheep, and even then I gave a year's credit. There was then no carding mill at which it could be carded. My flock and their descendants have produced two mills with fine cards, and a third is now erecting, and my instructions have enabled private families to wash and card it with cotton cards, and in consequence of this, the wool has reached the prices I have mentioned, and instead of a year's credit to the manufacturers, they pay one half the price down, and the residue in eight months. When as matter of favour, I have spared small quantities to private families, as twenty or thirty pounds, they pay down the price, and some have even advanced the money to my overseer three months before the sheep were shorn, in order to secure a preference.

It may be useful to mention to you one great cause of the anxiety to have fine wool, which is now diffusing throughout this state. Our legislature have, very wisely, given a bounty of eighty dollars for the best specimens of woolen cloth, not less than thirty yards narrow cloth, woye in private families, and a higher bounty for two hundred yards made by professed manufacturers. The candidates in each county exhibit their cloth to the county court at their autumn sessions. The person to whom the prize is adjudged, has an order upon the county treasurer for the amount. The judges transmit a half of a yard of the cloth, with their certificate of the breadth and length of the piece to the society for useful arts, who determine which of the specimens sent them are the first, second and third best of the private claimants, and which the first and second best of those exhibited by professed manufacturers: the first in each line receives from the state treasury a piece of plate of the value of one hundred and sixty dollars, the second of one hundred dollars, and the third of eighty dollars, in addition to the

county bounty. The last year, the first prize for domestic manufactured cloth was adjudged to that made from my bred woolthat of the first quality was manufactured for my own use, and not exhibited for the prize, not having the necessary breadth. The first manufacturer's prize was taken by one to whom I sold my half-bred wool, and all the state prizes have been, I believe, adjudged to cloth made from half-bred Merino fleeces. This has opened the eyes of the public to this object, and excited so great an emulation among the farmers, that many are anxious to procure the wool, and I do not doubt, that at least one hundred pieces of cloth will be offered for the premiums this year.

I have had it very much at heart to render this breed of sheep common, and have accordingly published in the newspapers, in a plain stile, several little essays on the subject, which have had all the effect I promised myself from them in this state, and the western parts of Massachusetts, beyond which they did not reach. Having (as I believe) been the first to introduce the Merino fullbred into the United States, (mine having been sent from France in the spring of 1802, about three or four months before those of col. Humphreys were sent from Spain) I feel a great interest in seeing my fellow citizens avail themselves of the advantages they present, and the rather, as they are a more hardy and thrifty race than our own, as is acknowledged by every person who sees my mixed flock of common and Merino sheep feeding together, either on dry food or on grass. If, therefore, you conceive that any thing I have communicated may contribute to this desirable end, you are perfectly at liberty to use it as you think proper. I am sorry that it is not in my power to furnish the gentleman you mention with a full-bred ewe, as my whole stock of the full-bred ewes at present is only twenty, and I have it in contemplation to extend my flock to about 1000 sheep. At present, including lambs, it does not amount to four hundred of the full and mixed breeds; but I am now in such a train that I shall advance very rapidly. ******

I am, sir, with esteem,

Your most obdt. humb. serv't.

ROBT. R. LIVINGSTON.

James Mease, M. D.