IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING FISH
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Foster Wilkins, of Lavender Road, Clapham
Junction, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING FISH,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Foster Wilkins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1880.
THOMAS FOSTER WILKINS, of Lavender Road, Clapham Junction, in the County
of Surrey, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING FISH."
This Invention relates to the preservation of fish without the use of ice, and
may be carried out as follows:-
The fish to be preserved should be first placed in a suitable pan or vessel. I
then form a solution of glacial monophosphoric acid mixed with a solution of sugar,
this solution is then added to water, either fresh or salt (I prefer to use sea water
when readily attainable), and this solution is poured into the pan or vessel con-
taining the fish in quantity sufficient to cover the fish. The fish should be allowed
to remain in this diluted solution for a period of from 6 hours to 3 days, after
which the fish may be taken out and placed on a suitable strainer, and is then
ready to be packed in any convenient manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Foster Wilkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th July 1880.
THOMAS FOSTER WILKINS, of Lavender Road, Clapham Junction, in the County
of Surrey, Gentleman, "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING FISH."
My Invention relates to improvements in preserving fish, whereby the use of ice
for that purpose is dispensed with.
In carry out my Invention a solution is formed of glacial monophosphoric
acid mixed with a solution of sugar.
These ingredients are employed, by preference, in about the proportions for each
pound of fish of from twelve grains to seventy two grains of glacial mono-
phosphoric acid dissolved in water to from eighteen grains to one hundred and
eight grains of sugar, also dissolved in water. The ratio of the glacial monophos-
phoric acid and sugar should in all cases be about two parts of the first to three
parts of the second, and the two substances should be separately dissolved in cold
water before mixing. Where it is required to keep the preserving mixture for a
long time it may be found desirable to keep the two solutions separate, mixing
just before using.
When the weight of fish to be treated has been ascertained I mix the proper
quantity of the concentrated solution with water, sufficient to pour over all the fish,
and afterwards add as much water as will cover the fish in the vessel containing it.
The fish is allowed to remain in the solution say from about twelve hours to
forty eight hours, according to size and other circumstances, after which the fish
may be removed and allowed to drain, it having previously been rinsed or not,
as may be found most expedient.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
Preserving fish, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Foster Wilkins, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
MITOR T WIT INS (TC)