New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-12

used in the process varied in value from one to
f1Ve guineas. At one factory alone in Paris ten
thousand pearls were made a week. The scales
Of the bleak (Alburnus- lucidus) were used al
most exclusively. few roach and dace scales
being employed. Four thousand fish produced
one pound of scale and produced four ounces of
pigment.
In preparing the pigment the fish were taken
when fresh and the scales scraped into shall
low tub containing little water. The dark up
per part of the fish was not scraped as the
scales on that part were yellow and useless
The whole was then placed in horsehair sieve
Water was applied and the scales gently washed
and then pressed The essence which lines the
scales Of this fish would settle to the bottom
Of the tub as brilliant blue-white oily mass.
The essence was then put into tin boxes, filled
up with ammonia and sent to Paris Here hol-
low glass beads of various forms and sizes were
prepared and by of, tiny tube the es-
sence was injected into the bead A current
of dry air was then passed over the pearls,
after which they were ready for market When
greater solidity was required they were filed
with melted wax. The silvery pigment lining
the air bladder of the Argentine fish has super
seeded fish scales to a considerable extent in this
work
The scales of the drum are extensively
used in the manufacture OF the sprays OF flowers
and other articles of fancy work which are
sold at seaside resorts especially In Florida I'M
der the name of fish scale jewelry" They are
large and silvery, and so hard that it Is neces-
sary to remove them from the fish with an axe
or hatchet. The scales Of sheepshead, tarpon,
channel bass. etc, also used for this purpose
at times.
A curious fish on the Pacific Coast Is the
oolachon, or candle fish. So full Of oil is 1t that
after being sun dried, it can be lighted and will
burn with suffering flame to the end In the
region OF the Oder, in Europe, the latest bur-
bots are cut into strips. dried and employed as
candles by the people.
In the old days the Greenlanders used the
spines from the fins Of the Norway haddock as
needles. In Russia the Miller's Thumb (Cottus
gobio), small fish, is used as a weathercock.
Hung by a single thread, 1t will point to the
point of the compass whence the wind blows. A
still more curious that of one Of the
perches in the Middle Ages. BY putting it
under ones arm when prosecuting a lawsuit the
judge would become your friend. The remora
was not quite so lucky for man. Should sutton
in a love or law suit or a person who had on
hand any business that required dispatch, see
one of these fishes while bathing. IT would be
considered as omen OF Ill luck.
The preparation Of oil from aquatic animals,
for both medicinal and technical purposes, is of
great Importance in this country, and is quite
familiar to all. The principal oil producers are
the whales, porpoises, blackfsh seals. wairus.
menhaden. herring. cod, paddock. pollock. hake,
ousls. ling. shark. dogfish. alligator and turtle
Various subsidiary products are obtained from
these aquatic oils, and form source OF con-
siderable profit to the refner. Among the more
important OF these products may be noted the
following:
At low temperature there may be separated
from all varieties OF aquatic oils solid fat or
grease known "foots." "stearin." which Is
somewhat similar 10 the tallow obtained from
sheep and oxen. 1t Is used as substitute for