The material took the most brilliant polish and had the appearance of the finest jet.
Observing that fish-skins might be used as an economical substitute for isinglass, he went up to London on one occasion in order to explain to brewers the best method of preparing and using them.

He occupied handsome apartments, and, little regarding the splendour of the drawing-room, he hung the fish-skins up against the walls.

His landlady caught him one day when he was about to bang up a wet cod's skin! He was turned out at once, with all his fish.

While in town on this errand, it occurred to him that a great deal of power was wasted in treading the streets of London! He conceived the idea of using the streets and roadways as a grand tread-mill, under which the waste power might be stored up by mechanical methods and turned to account.

He had also an idea of storing up the power of the tides, and of running water, in the same way.