Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-17

grace Oh senator higgins Pleasantly
domiciled at Bordeaux, has done it
again. Everybody will remember what
q hit he made in his thrilling romance
entitled "The Founding Asylums of
France" printed in former number
OF the United States Consular Reports.
Even the metropolitan press took up the
article with glee and complimented the
young and energetic collector of the
Sussex corruption fund over having in
troduced some sweetness and light into
this hitherto rather tame periodical. 1t
was predicted that if the Department of
State should secure Consul Knowles as
regular and frequent contributor, the
circulation of this publication would 60
up even as the dragon fly goeth up for
his evening meal of mosquitoes.
So that the government, the read
ing public and our discriminating met
ropolitan contemporaries are to be CON
graduated over the appearance of
another article, in No. 1879 Consular Re-
ports, from the versatile and tlamboyant
pen of this rarely gifted young diplomat.
In this article, entitled "Curing Goldfish
in France" we regret TO say that we
miss something of the pathos and bril-
liancy of the founding asylum article.
This is disappointment, but one can
not have everything he wants in this
world, and even Consul Knowles may
be allowed his moments of seriousness
especially when contemplating so I'M
romantic staple of commerce as dried
Goldfish. So he begins by telling us that
France Is prominently a fish eating
country. This will be news to many
who had imbibed from books the
idea that the average Frenchman
lived chiefly on champagne, absinthe
and gossip. But Consul Knowles as
signs two reasons for this important
declaration. The first inheres in "a
natural inclination or marked degree of
taste" for fish; the second is attributable
TO the religious persuasion Of many of
the inhabitants which makes abstinence
from other meat the consecrated duty of
at least one day in every week. After
this we are measurably prepared to hear
that tat the port of Bordeaux alone
dufing the year 1890 there were dis
shaFged from vessels of various
nationalities 61,136,16 pounds of salt
fish, the greater part of which was cod"
There are two grades of this fish in the
Bordeaux market. Morne verte is the
name given to that quality of fish pre-
pared and sailed aboard the Newfound-
land fishing smacks and barreled and
shipped in bulk to France The morne
verte is generally cooked and eaten,
after undergoing a thorough soaking,
for immediate consumption. If the fish
are to be placed upon the market for
ordinary consumption, they are again
dried and undergo more careful prepar-
alton in France, from whence they are
afterwards exported in great quantities
to Spain, Italy, Belgium, Russia, and, in
short, to every country on the continent
This ccdfsh-drying industry is an i'm
portant one at Bordeaux, "where are
annually prepared for general European
and home consumption more than
100000 cod, an equivalent of 10000
tons and representing in value
$2,000,o0o." The curing grounds, To-
Gated in the environs of Bordeaux,
convey the idea of vast vine
yard" at distant view. Line upon
line, row upon row of wooden and wire
trellises from three to four feet in height
extend across the undulating plain as
far as the eye can reach, and upon these
rudely constructed frames are hung in
Vulnerable fish, their split and divided
surfaces exposed to the warm sunlight
of early spring or the dry breezes of
autumn. A detailed description of the
process of cleansing and curing the fish
follows, which we learn is conducted in
conformance to established regulations,
the purity of the water used and the
means employed for its introduction,
storage and distribution being controlled
by law, while inspectors require that
an average of 2sS to 81 gallonso of water
shall be used in the cleansing of 2 900
pounds of fish" Two days exposure
TO the sun is counted sufficient for the
drying process land it is estimated that
about $50 days in each year present
meteorological conditions favorable for
drying"
When ready for shipment the fish are
packed in bales of 10, 1872 and 176
pounds, a package containing from AZ
70 IS fish. The smaller fish, averaging
from IL to IS inches in length, which
are also of inferior quality, are sent
saainly to the Italian market. The best
and largest fish--of that calibre which
gave the historic storekeeper occasion
for remarking to departing customer,
by the way, speaking of honesty, |
would advise you next time either to
wear longer coat or steal shorter
Goldfish, these big fellows are eagerly
sought by the fastidious Spaniards, who
further insist upon the black outer skin,
to which the French do not object,
being removed. To Spain is exported
annually from 1900 to $1,000 tons
of the prepared fish; to Italy about
1000 tons of the cheap and inferior spe.
cies. The fish drying industry in their
mediate neighborhood of Bordeaux gives
employment to about GOO employers
averaging 20 workmen each, and these
1900 hands are roughly estimated as
capable of washing, cleaning and drying
$4,000 pounds Of fish per day. The
men employed in this industry receive