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STEAMING AND BOILING DOWN ESTABLISHMENTS -
has been offered seven shillings each for sheep, Say a flock of two thousand, which arrived from Yass yesterday, but having taken such a prominent part in the discussion on this subject, he has resolved to boil them down at the Establishment forming at Five dock farm, and has made a Contract to have the legs of mutton salted & smoked in Sydney.
The five dock establishment will be a very extensive one as there are three boilers each of which will hold five hundred sheep upwards of four hundred were placed in them of Friday. The more enquiries we make we are convinced that the system of boiling down sheep will have the effect of fixing a minimum price of seven shillings for sheep but knowing the great distress under which so many settlers are labouring we say, only boil down your surplus sheep, be cautious in what you do, let not your want of money tempt you to kill too many sheep, & rest assured that by moderately supporting those who are forming Boiling Establishments, you will at all times be certain of a fair remunerating price for your Flocks. -
STEAMING DOWN PROCESS COMMENCED
The Steaming down process seems to have Commenced in 1843-1844.
In 1845 the Sydney Salting Company were enabled to kill forty Bullocks, steam them down, and have their tallow fit for the market in six hours.
TIME REQUIRED TO STEAM 40 OXEN.
Experience has taught those who have steaming down Establishments that to Steam down forty oxen properly that twelve hours are required to allow[?] to the present year 1847 -
Twelve hours Constant steaming reduces the inside of the bones to a honeycomb, the bones are bleached as white as snow, become as light as Carbonate of Magnesia & crumble under the hand like flour.
CATTLE FIT FOR STEAMING OR BOILING
The average weight of tallow in each bullock in a herd of Cattle fit for boiling or steaming must be two hundred pounds weight, otherwise the expences [expenses] of the Proprietor will not be rewarded by steaming.