IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF ANCHOVIES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT-to Elizabeth Ann Sellon Burgess Burgess, of No. 107,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of!" IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PREPARATION OF ANCHOVIES."
Sealed the 11th May 1860, and dated the 12th November 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Elizabeth Ann Sellon
Burgess Burgess at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her
Petition, on the 12th November 1859.
I, ELIZABETH ANN SELLON BURGESS BURGESS, of No. 107, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF ANCHOVIES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in preparing anchovies in such a manner as to
thoroughly eradicate all extraneous matter, and still preserve the true flavor of
the fish for an unlimited time, and is as follows:-The anchovy is to be
scraped or rubbed with a blunt instrument, so as not to injure the skin of the
fish, and yet to divest it of all salt and other extraneous matters, and the heads
and tails taken off; the fish is then washed in cold spring water, and after-
wards carefully wiped with linen cloths, and then placed in bottles, jars, or
other suitable air-tight vessels, with spiced malt vinegar or best Lucca oil with
the addition of bay leaves, to add to the flavor. The effect of this is that the
flavor and all the properties of this peculiarly delicate fish are retained for any
length of time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Elizabeth Ann Sellon Burgess Burgess in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th May 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELIZABETH
ANN SELLON BURGESS BURGESS, of No. 107; Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Elizabeth Ann Sellon Burgess Burgess, Her special licence
that I, the said Elizabeth Ann Sellon Burgess Burgess, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Elizabeth Ann
Sellon Burgess Burgess, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF ANCHOVIES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Elizabeth Ann Sellon Burgess Burgess, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Elizabeth Ann Sellon Burgess Burgess,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in preparing anchovies in such a manner that they
shall be thoroughly cleansed, and all extraneous matter eradicated, yet still
preserve the true flavor of the fish for an unlimited period..
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, as follows:-
The anchovies are to be scraped or rubbed with a blunt instrument, so as
not to injure the skin of the fish, and yet to divest it of all salt and other

page_text: extraneous matters, and the heads and tails taken off. The fish is then to be
washed in cold spring water, and afterwards carefully wiped with linen cloths,
and then placed in bottles, jars, or other suitable air-tight vessels with spiced
malt vinegar or the best Lucca oil, with the addition of bay leaves to add to the
flavor. The effect of this is that the true flavor and all the properties of this
peculiarly delicate fish are retained for an unlimited period.
Up to the present time the anchovy has been so treated as to falsify the
flavor of the fish, but by the means adopted as herein described the natural
and very delicate taste is retained, and that for any length of time, as being in
air-tight vessels no fermentation can possibly take place, consequently the acrid
taste so frequent with anchovies as at present treated is entirely obviated.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my said Invention for
" Improvements in the Manufacture of Anchovies," and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion, that what I claim
as my Invention intended to be secured to me by the herein in part recited
Letters Patent is, the preparing or treating of anchovies in the manner herein
described, and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Elizabeth Ann Sellon Burgess Burgess,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
E. A. S. B. BURGESS. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.